
Class _J£N/. liAO 

Book_ _l2^^ 

Copyright W^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



I 



SUCCESSFUL 

ADUIi^T BIBLE CLASSES 



A]ST> 



WHAT THEY ARE DOING 



iu:.so 



reports from sun^day school suiperest- 

tejs^dents 0]n^ adult bible class 

t\^ork: ajs^d its needs 



AOT> 



conditio:ns of the w^ork 

as seen by ^dxjlt bible cli^ss teachers 

oe the ordinary sort 



BY 

DAVID C. COOK 



Copyright, 1906, by David C. Cook Publishing Co. 



DAVID C. COOK PUBI.ISHING COMPANY 

PUBIylSHKRS 

CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON 

PUBIvISHING HOUS^ and MAII^ING ROOMS, KlGIN, ILLINOIS 



BHAHYofCONGRESSJ 

TrrsrNew Adult Bible Class Movement Supplies. 

. Cspyrleht Entry I 

^ /lAJ-' ^ ^ *? 7 1 "^^^ ]Vew 3Iovement Class Monthly. Helps for Carrying on the Work of the New 

Ass A ^'^" '*•• W^^ members of New Movement classes. The Movement Class. 

rr / I II ^ ^y/i °4y publication of tbe kind. 96 columns of mat- We provide the following helps for carrying on 

^/ k^a^li //.tel each month. Gives new methods of work and the various branches of New Movement class 

CO"'_._g^^__ja£l\ 's of what New Movement classes everywhere work : 
■■■"*■■■"' are doing. Also articles by New Movement class 

specialists on every phase of the work. Besides Absent Members Follow-up Cahd. Tablets 

this, the publication is a lesson help expressly of 50. 10 cents per tablet. 

for such classes, superior to any other, containing Visitors Follow-up Card. Tablets of 50. 

Class Lesson Discussion Questions and Topics. 10 cents per tablet. 

Also gives stories in the Adult Bible Class sphere, Sick Members Follow-up Card. Tablets of 

each written with a purpose. There are other 50. 10 cents per tablet. 

Adult Bible Class publications, but none like this. Attendance Register Card. Tablets of 50. 

It must be seen and its purposes understood to be 10 cents per tablet. 

appreciated. Membership Card for Permanent Record. 

Price. — Singly, 40 cents a year. In lots of three 40 cents p^r 100. 

or more, addressed to the same person, 30 cents Members Weekly Pledge Card. 30 cents per 

per year, or 8 cents per quarter. 100. 

Meter's Adult Bible Class, Class Book. 

The New Movement Teacher's Monthly. Leatherette cover. 20 cents each. 

Secretary's Loose Leaf Record Book. Flexible 

This contains the same material as that of the leather cover. Alphabetical index, 100 sheets in 

Class Monthly, to which is added special help for ^ook, 75 cents. 200 sheets in book; '$1.25. 

the teacher, including Lesson Teaching Plans on Secretary's Triplicate Report Book. A book of 

each lesson. Lesson Contrasts, Lesson Incidents, weeklv and monthlv report blanks. Reports are 

One Truth Lessons, etc., etc. provided in triplicate, lasting lor six months. 

The Teacher's Monthly, taken together with the The three reports are made at the' same time by 

Class Monthly, gives New Movement Classes carbon process. 40 cents each, 
needed assistance for which they have long been 

^^^^B.^ ci. 1 /?/^ i xrr-u u. Class Banquet Programs. 

Price. — Singly, 60 cents per year. Where sent 

with ten or more Class Monthlies, all to one per- Readv prepared program blanks for class socials, 

son, price, 40 cents each per year, or 10 cents per banquets, etc. Four pages each, 

quarter. International Program Blank. Round page, 

Three-Cent IVew Movement Books. 4 inches in diameter, 'in imitation of Interna- 

c tional Adult Bible Class button. In lots of 50 or 

■^ ', f A series of inexpensive and helpful books on New more, $1.00 per 100. 
^ ' ' r Movement questions, including the following 

titles : FORGET-ME-NOT Program Blank. Lithographed 

The Teacher's Relation to the New Move- in many colors. Forget-me-not decorations. In 

MENT Class. lots of 50 or more, $1.80 per 100. 

The Class President and His Work. Wild rose Program Blank. Embossed roses in 

How the Superintendent May Help the white. (No colors.) In lots of 50 or more, $1.20 

Adult Bible Class Movement. per 100, postpaid. 
The Class Secretary and His Work. 

The Spiritual Work of the Class and How Ontfit for Starting a New Movement Class. 

'"""iN^TtSsSN^TnT C^LfsY'^m' THE LESSON AND ^^"^^^ P^* up package of supplies for Teachers 

TMPHovF^rT??snN nT?rn?sTON PwNc, Superintendents and others to use in starting and 

'"StTlSiJ^'Tn NEW^MovEMLrc^"^^^^ organizing a New Movement Adult Bible Class. 

PLACE AND PURPOSE. Contains the following : 
Interesting the Class in Missions. 

Other books now in course of preparation. 8 Copies " The Great Adult Bible Class 

Price of above books, where two or more are Movement." -S^c 

ordered, 3 cents each, postpaid. 16 Copies " What is 9. New Movement 

Class?" 5c 

Class Lesson Discussion Helps. 8 Copies "How They Start and How 

They Grow." 2c 

Round Table Question Slips. Tablets of 50. 8 Question and Resolution Cards 2%c 

10 cents per tablet. 2 Copies " How to Start a New Move- 

QuESTiON Discussion Cards. Tablets of 50. ment Class." Ic 

10 cents per tablet. 2 Copies " Some Ways New Movement 

TOPIC Assignment Cards. Lots of 10 or more. Classes Have Been Started." Ic 

40 cents per 100. 4 Copies "Charter Members Roll" Slips l%c 

„,,„,„ ^. 2 Copies Bible Class Contests Ic 

Helps for Union Meetings. jg Copies " Mo^el Constitution and Pro- 

Co-OPERATiON OP NEW MOVEMENT CLASSES. g^'^in for Meeting to Perfect Or- 

Leaflet. 30 cents per 100. „ gamzation. ••;•••••••;•••;. W,;;- ^^ 

COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP Adult DEPARTMENTS. 2 Copies New Movement Class 

Leaflet. 30 cents per 100. Montniy ^ 

Round Table Leaflet. For general distribu- rr ^■a^ 2SV p 

* tion where conducting Round Table. 20 cents lotai ^oy2^ 

per 100. Price of Outfit, 25 cents. 

Address: DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING COMPANY, NEW MOVEMENT SUPPLIES 

DEPARTMENT. ELGIN. ILLINOIS. 






Introduction, 



For some time our attention has been 
directed to the needs of adttlt classes of 
the Sunday-school. The appointment of 
an Adult Department Committee at the 
last International Convention gave as- 
surance that the time was ripe for a care- 
ful consideration of these needs. The 
remarkable success of some adult classes 
is known to all well-informed Sunday- 
school workers, but the number of these 
classes and their methods of work have 
been little understood or appreciated. 
The appointm.ent of this committee was 
due to pressure brought to bear by rep- 
resentative workers who were more or 
less familiar with what such classes were 
doing, and who urged the importance of 
giving endorsement and widespread' pub- 
licity to their plans of work. 

The material for this book has been 
secured at large expense of time and 
,rnoney, and represents extended investi- 
gation in a new and largely unexplored 
field. The book is not a treatise on the 
best plans of adult Bible class work, but 
is a summary of reports showing what 
successful classes are doing, and also a 
general survey of the field as reported 
by superintendents and adult Bible class 
teachers of the ordinary sort. From a 
study of these reports it is believed that 
each one may gain a fund of such in- 
formation as will enable him to formulate 
and put in operation plans which will 
prove most successful. 

To a large extent successful classes 
have grown out of felt needs along some 
particular line. This is shown by let- 
ters received in connection with reports, 
and by replies to further inquiries as to 
how classes were started and to what 
success w^as especially attributed. Other 
classes have followed in their wake, using 



similar methods, and their success has de- 
pended more or less upon the real heart 
put into the work. 

This book gives three kinds of reports, 
as will be seen. In considering the sub- 
stance of these, care should be taken not 
to confuse one with the other. 

First, reports from successful classes. 
These should be weighed accordingly. 

Second, reports from superintendents, 
some of whom know little or nothing 
about best plans of adult class work. 

Third, reports from teachers of ordi- 
nary adult classes, some of whom have 
already awakened to the consideration of 
better plans of work, but most of whom 
have not. 

We were much pleased because of the 
interest taken in the work which we have 
been exploiting, also by the enthusiasm 
manifested by those classes w^hich ap- 
pear to be making a success of their 
work. 

A careful study of adult Bible class 
plans, as herein outlined, will certainly 
open a vast and wonderfully attractive 
world for Christian enterprise and help- 
f'Ulness. There may at first be some im- 
patience because of a desire to compass 
all phases of the work quickly. This, 
however, will be followed by surprise 
and admiration as the magnitude and 
hopefulness of the field begin to appear. 

Reports show a much larger number 
of really successful classes and a greater 
diversity of methods employed than we 
had anticipated. At first we were much 
surprised at the difference in plans of 
work reported and the apparent con- 
fusion of ideas as to best ways of work- 
ing, as well as at the wide range of sug- 
gestions given. But when we consider 
that for the most part each class has had 



Introduction. 



to blaze its own way and work out its 
own destiny, we should rather feel sur- 
prise that there was not still wider differ- 
ence in plans and methods reported. 

In each case success seems to have 
been due to the wise use of some one or 
more good methods, rather than to all- 
round best plans. Criticised as a whole, 
€ach class falls far short of its privileges. 
This is certainly not from lack of willing- 
ness to use best plans, but rather from 
lack of knowledge, for in many cases the 
faulty methods pursued are more diffi- 
cult than better ones. 

Some successful classes do not seem 
to have been working along lines which 
are generally practical, a great teacher 
or a large expenditure of money being 
depended upon to draw and hold mem- 
bers. 

In answer to questions relative to how 
long classes have pursued present plans, 
we have been much surprised to learn 
that a large proportion have only re- 
cently adopted them. Some ideal classes 
have a record of good work dating back 
a long time, but the majority have started 
in the road to success within the last 
two or three years. 

The idea of class cooperation and par- 
ticipation is fundamental with all suc- 
cessful classes, excepting the few re- 
ferred to previously. But in many cases 
only a portion of the class seems to take 
part in any branch of work ; in other 
classes participation seems to be con- 
fined to certain class activities. This is 
no doubt due largely to the difficulty of 
securing cooperation along certain lines, 
the class being more or less ignorant of 
how to help. 

Under difficulties and hindrances, a 
long list is given in the reports. We trust 
these will not alarm anyone. At the 
start, as critics we, were looking for ob- 
stacles and weak places. When reports 
began to come in we were somewhat 
discouraged because of the many ob- 



stacles noted, but one after another of 
these disappeared as other reports were 
received ; for where one class had failed, 
others were found to have turned defeat 
into victory. In this connection we 
would say without hesitation that noth- 
ing in the way of literary societies, 
clubs, lodges or other social organizations 
can successfully compete with the adult 
Bible class if rightly organized and 
conducted ; neither the dance, the card 
party, nor the lodge can ever offer the 
same attractions. The spirit developed 
in connection with each of these is such 
that they never can give the same joy 
and happiness that the ideal adult Bible 
class will. 

There are six things common to suc- 
cessful adult Bible classes to which we 
wish to call special attention : 

first. Each class is a democracy. It 
is a cooperative association in which 
every member has a share. The " one 
man " idea largely, if not altogether, dis- 
appears. Each person has a vote and a 
voice in directing the affairs of the class 
and a part in carrying them on. 

While classes of the Primary Depart- 
ment need parental care, the " mother- 
ing " method is not a success with men 
and women. Then there is the auto- 
cratic method, which is proper with chil- 
dren's classes and common to the old 
style adult Bible class — though never a 
success. 

Second. These classes are organized. 
They have officers and committees, so 
the work of the class may be systema- 
tized and wisely divided among the mem- 
bers. They make their own rules and 
regulations and usually have a consti- 
tution. 

Third. Class plans provide for social 
and business meetings, in addition to the 
Sunday-school sessions. These afford 
opportunity for becoming acquainted, at- 
tracting new members, discussing class 
plans, etc. 



Introduction. 



fourth. Each of these classes is a 
brotherhood. The members seek to ex- 
emphfy in their class relations the spirit 
which Jesus taught and lived. The so- 
cial feature is one of the chief attrac- 
tions, because of its high plane, its Chris- 
tian spirit, its freedom from caste, its 
sympathetic and helpful nature. 

Fifth. These classes are '' working " 
classes. The expressive term, " Some- 
thing doing " applies to each of them. 
Members feel an individual and personal 
obligation that makes them glad to have 
a part in the work of the class. Such 
classes reach out after adults who do not 
attend the Sunday-school, and manage 
to make the class so enjoyable that they 
are glad to come. Besides, their activ- 
ities extend beyond the class and it be- 
comes a help along other lines of Chris- 
tian effort. 

Sixth. These classes believe in class 
lesson discussion, each one helping to 
make the lesson hour enjoyable and help- 
ful, instead of merely a time to learn 
what the text says or to recite the lesson. 
By thus discussing practical questions 
growing out of the lesson statements the 
members are mutually helpful. 

These new plans of work succeed be- 
cause they commend themselves to 
adults. It is not to be wondered at that 
adults fought shy of the Sunday-school 
under old conditions. Men or women of 
any spirit want to feel they are of some 
account in an organization to which they 
belong. They love to be where there is 
something going on, especially if they 
are helping to make it go. It is not what 
the Sunday-school does for adults, as 
much as what they do for it, that will 
make them love it and work for it. 

These new plans are an untold 
blessing to the teacher. They relieve 
him from those cares and responsibilities 
that have practically compelled him to 
be an autocrat. They furnish him with 
just that assistance which he has wanted. 



It will not be difficult to follow the 
plans of successful classes when once 
they are understood. The work of or- 
ganizing is simple. The idea of socials, 
business meetings, and so on, should not 
frighten anyone. But there is something 
termed " class spirit " in all successful 
adult classes which is not easily de- 
fined or understood. This will be 
recognized when the class is possessed 
of it, and with the realization of it there 
will come a feeling of general satisfac- 
tion. 

While the reader will undoubtedly be 
delighted with the many suggestions 
given in this book, some plans of work 
reported are crude, and others could not 
be followed with general success. Also 
there are suggested for various troubles 
remedies which are impractical, and, 
which, if used, would not work a satis- 
factory cure. 

Successful plans for large classes must, 
of necessity, differ from those for smaller 
ones, and plans for classes of young 
men and classes of young women from 
those for older persons. 

In all successful classes strangers are 
not only welcomed, but vigorous efforts 
are put forth to induce them to become 
members. In some instances where only 
certain ones were invited or sought for, 
large classes have been built up ; but in 
most cases efforts are made to win all — 
young men working for young men, re- 
gardless of occupation or social stand- 
ing ; young women working for young 
.w^omen in the same way. 

All successful classes report frequent 
gatherings outside of the school for the 
purpose of members becoming ac- 
quainted, the transaction of business, and 
so on. In many cases these meetings 
are the chief reliance of the class in at- 
tracting new members and holding in 
attendance those now connected w^ith the 
class, and it is believed, judging from 
reports, that no adult class can be sue- 



Introduction. 



cessftilly worked up or maintained with- 
out these meetings. 

Some successful classes have under- 
taken large things outside their own cir- 
cle, and it has been demonstrated that 
the success of adult classes is largely de- 
pendent upon the helpful employment of 
each member. Thus the wider the range 
of work undertaken by the class, the 
greater the success may be. 

Almost without exception, teachers of 
successful classes speak of the interest 
taken in the sick and needy of their own 
membership, and of the provision made 
for such. 

One of the most surprising facts dis- 
closed through our inquiries was the iso- 
lation of successful classes. With few 
exceptions we found no indication of 
groups of classes coming together to 
compare notes and encourage one an- 
other; but where this has been the case, 
great results have followed, and we sin- 
cerely hope that in the near future it 
will be more generally done. 

Many' teachers have little to report 
except that their classes are organized. 
Their committees apparently do little 
work, their officers are such in name 
only. Such classes cannot of course hope 
to realize a full measure of success. 

Some classes seem to be doing their 
work in a spirit which makes it drudgery, 
rather than a pleasure, " duty " being 
the cudgel used to urge workers along. 

The secret of success in adult Bible 
class work may be summed up in four 
words — *' Taking advantage of circum- 
stances " — and the many difficulties listed 
in this book should help to suggest pos- 
sible difficulties in your case and wise 
planning with these in view. It should 
be understood in this connection that any 
unusual or so-called unfortunate con- 
dition only indicates the line of helpful 
work that most needs to be done, rather 
than an obstacle to doing good work. 

To illustrate: Several classes report 



discouragements because of the shifting 
character of the population, persons re- 
maining in the class but a short time. 
One class has taken advantage of this 
by introducing a corresponding mem- 
bers' department. This has proved a 
marked success, only two of the many 
who have left the city and the class in 
the past five years having as yet been lost 
sight of. 

Many classes are troubled because of 
their members being taken for teachers. 
Other classes, seeing this need on the 
part of the school, have made supplying 
teachers a feature of their work. They 
have committees to look after this branch 
of the work, with the result that it has 
become an important class activity. 

Many speak of discouragements because 
of baseball and similar attractions which 
seem to have made it impossible for them 
to reach young people in large numbers. 
Other classes have taken advantage of 
the same conditions by introducing ath- 
letics as an attraction, the results being 
most satisfactory. 

It is difficult to grasp the magnitude of 
this new field of effort or what its proper 
cultivation must mean to the church of 
the future. In most communities four- 
fifths of the adults are not in the Sun- 
day-school. Where success in this work 
is attained, it means doubling the Sun- 
day-school attendance, and providing 
proper accommodations for this great 
influx. It means the study of very dif- 
ferent methods of Sunday-school work 
from those with which we have been ac- 
quainted. In this connection there is 
much for workers to unlearn if they 
would be successful. Here plans must 
be democratic, the whole class having a 
voice and a part in the work, while in 
other classes the teacher and the super- 
intendent do the planning. 

Good work in adult Bible classes re- 
quires that each member be acquainted 
with all proposed plans of work, so that 



Introduction. 



there may be wise and willing coopera- 
tion ; while in other departments, only 
the teachers and officers of the school 
need to know of plans. 

Up to the present time there has been 
no literature suited to the needs of adult 
Bible classes working in accordance with 
new and improved plans as herein out- 



lined, the ordinary Sunday-school sup- 
plies being wholly unfitted for them. 
There have been no text-books to help 
in planning and conducting them, while 
other departments have such helps in 
great variety. If such classes are to mul- 
tiply and prove successful everywhere, 
these needs must be supplied. 



Successful Classes. 



QUEST FOR SUCCESSFUL CLASSES. 

The following letter was sent to State 
Sunday-school secretaries, field work- 
ers, Y. M. C. A. secretaries, and others 
throughout the United States and 
Canada. It will be noticed that nothing 
is said in this regarding class organiza- 
tion, the only object being to put our- 
selves in touch with the most successful 
classes in the country, so that later we 
might study their plans of work. In 
addition to the names sent us in answer 
to. this call, others were received in re- 
ports from superintendents (see Ques- 
tions 8 and 9, Reports from Superin- 
tendants, page 30) : 

Dear Friend: In the interest of better 
Adult Bible Class work in the Sunday- 
school, I am anxious to learn of any espe- 
cially successful adult Bible classes that 
there may be scattered through the coun- 
try. I want to write to these and learn 
their methods, later to give Bible classes 
in general the benefit of what may be 
learned. Will you kindly give me on the 
enclosed postal card the name and ad- 
dress of any teacher of such class in 
your city? If more than one, I will be 
glad to have name of each. 

If you do not know name of teacher, 
please give me name of the pastor of the 
church or superintendent of the Sunday- 
school with which class is connected. 

Hoping you will do me this kindness, 
I remain Sincerely yours. 



In answer to this call, and from other 
sources, there were reported to us 635 
especially successful classes. 



REPORTS FROM SUCCESSFUL CLASSES. 

Below we give letter of request sent 
to the teachers of 635 adult Bible classes 
which had been reported to us as espe- 
cially successful. This request was ac- 
companied by a Question Blank. The 
following pages give questions asked and 
summary of reports received. 

Dear Friend: Your name has been 
given me as one who has attained large 
success as an adult Bible class teacher. 
We are planning to publish a sm.all book 
of suggestions on adult Bible class work, 
and I am trying to learn all ♦[ can to 
help me in preparing it. I am writing 
to the best Bible class workers in various 
parts of the country, hoping to receive 
information that will make my book a 
great help to all adult Bible class work- 
ers. I enclose herewith an '^ Information 
Blank," which I would be very glad to 
have you fill out and return to me. If 
you will do me this kindness I will in 
return send you a copy of my little book 
when it is issued. I have made the In- 
formation Sheet somewhat lengthy, so 
it would be easy for you to give me the 
answers I need. I would also appreciate 
it if you would write and tell me in a 
general way about your class and how 
you think other adult Bible class teach- 
ers can profit by what you have done. 

Reports from many quarters lead me 
to believe that the Adult Bible Class De- 
partment is soon to develop into a mighty 
movement in the Sunday-school world, 
and I am sure you will be glad to do any- 
thing you can to help this along. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, I re- 
main Sincerely yours, 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes 



Total names of classes reported to us 
as being especially successful, 635. 

Total answers received from success- 
ful classes, 293. 

In many cases the reports received 
have been followed by requests for fur- 
ther information on one or more of the 
questions ; in some instances several let- 
ters were written. 

-K -K -K 

LENGTH OF TIME TAUGHT BY 
PRESENT TEACHER. 

Question 1. — How long have you been 
teacher of the present class? 

Fifty-eight report teaching present 
class for ten years or more. 

Fifty-four report teaching present 
class for five years or more. 

One hundred and seventy-two report 
teaching present class for two years or 
less. 

Nine do not report. 

M MM 

CLASSES OF MEN OR WOMEN OR 
MIXED. 

Question 2. — Is your class for men 
only? For women only? For both? 

One hundred and sixty-seven men's 
classes were reported. 

Thirty-five women's classes were re- 
ported. 

Ninety-one classes of both men and 
women were reported. 

M M M 
SIZE OF CLASSES. 

Question 3. — What is the present en- 
rollment of your class? 

Two hundred and two report an aver- 
age enrollment of thirty or more. 

One hundred and forty report an en- 
rollment of fifty or more. 

Ninety-seven report an enrollment of 
sixty or more. 

Seventy-three report an enrollment of 
seventy-five or more. 



Forty-five report an enrollment of one 
hundred or more. 

Twenty-two report an enrollment of 
one hundred and fifty or more. 

Eighteen report an enrollment of two 
hundred or more. 

The total membership of the eighteen 
classes reported as having a membership 
of two hundred and upwards is 6321. 

The largest classes reporting are found 
in Fredericton, N. B. ; Germantown, 
Pa. ; Boston, Mass. ; Rochester, N. Y. ; 
Manchester, Iowa; Marion, Ohio; Can- 
ton, Ohio ; Columbus, Ohio ; Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. ; Louisville, Ky. ; Steuben- 
ville, Ohio; Fulton, N. Y." 

M M M 

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE. 

Question 4. — What is the average at- 
tendance of yonr class? 

The average attendance of twenty 
smallest classes reporting was 15. 

The average attendance of twenty 
largest classes was 142. 

The percentage of attendance to en- 
rollment was fifty per cent, in large 
classes, and sixty per cent, in small 
classes. 

A'Ote. — Great variation is noticeable 
in the percentage of attendance to en- 
rollment. 

M M M 

GRADING OF CLASSES. 

Question 5. — What is the age of the 
oldest member? 

Question 6. — What is the age of the 
youngest member? 

Ninety-three report classes with a 
membership varying in age from sixteen 
years to eighty. Fifty-one of these are 
mixed classes. 

One hundred and thirty-six report 
classes with membership varying in age 
from twenty-one to fifty. 

Thirty-nine report classes of young 
people from sixteen to twenty-one years 
of age. 



10 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



PLANS FOR SECUmNG NEW 
MEMBERS. 

Question 7. — How do you secure new 
members? 

Of the 293 classes reporting on their 
methods for securing new members 
nearly all say they depend on '' personal 
solicitation," by members of the class, 
either as individuals or committees. Of 
the many successful plans given, the fol- 
lowing are the most prominent: 

I. Advertising. 

" We use printer's ink freely." 

" We depend upon continuous adver- 
tising of our meetings among non-Sun- 
day-school goers." 

" We distribute our printed programs 
in the college and large business houses." 

" The daily papers print our weekly 
programs." 

*' We advertise attractive lesson 
courses and programs in the daily 
papers." 

" We advertise our class on pay en- 
velopes of large factories where many 
men are employed." 

" Our members are all supplied with 
attractive invitation cards." 

*' Invitation cards are handed out and 
mailed." 

" We distribute our printed invitations 
to strange young men at church service 
with a friendly personal invitation." 

" We have a card or letter which we 
distribute Sunday mornings in the read- 
ing-rooms of the hotels." 

II. By Mkmbkrs of the Class. 

" The class members are constantly 
looking up new, strange faces in the 
church services." 

"Under the direction of a standing 
committee the entire class, as a commit- 
tee of the whole, works for new mem- 
bers." 



" Every member invites her friends, 
and I do likewise." 

" We are all after them." 

" Members of the class are always on 
the lookout for new arrivals from the 
country to our citv looking for posi- 
tions." 

" Every member is on the Lookout 
Committee." 

'' We are all at it and at it all the 
time." 

" Nearly all members of the class make 
it a point to invite those visiting at their 
homes and the men they meet at work." 

" We ask members to furnish lists of 
friends. Then we get ten members to 
go for each one of these." 

" We do individual work with nominal 
Christians on our church book." 

III. Through Membership or Look- 
out Committee. 

'' Our committee ' holds up ' strangers 
after morning service and invites them 
into the class." 

"' We have a membership committee 
consisting of a chairman (who is a mem- 
ber of the class cabinet), and those whom 
he may appoint to assist him." 

'' We have a ' Hustlers' Committee ' 
whose special business it is to look out 
for new members." 

*' Personal invitations, through our 
committees, are repeated until success- 
ful." 

" A committee, of which the teacher 
is a member, does the work." 

• " A membership committee of three is 
specially charged with this." 

" Sometimes the New Members' Com- 
mittee meets in the Y. M. C. A. rooms 
and has a brief season of prayer, after- 
wards going out to invite men to come 
in. I can testify to the good accom- 
plished by this method." 

" In addition to our regular committees 
we have recently organized a new com- 
mittee which we call Committee of 26. 



11 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



This committee is in charge of a chair- 
man with twenty-five members. The 
city is divided into twenty-five sections ; 
each member is held responsible for the 
attendance of members from his section, 
as well as for looking up new mem- 
bers from his section. Each section 
committeeman is of course supplied 
with a list of all members residing in 
his section, and is periodically furnished 
by the secretary with a list of absentees 
who need looking after." 

IV. By Social Me;e:tings and Rallies. 

" New members are secured through 
inviting outsiders to our socials and 
musicals." 

" By giving frequent social^." 

" Through interesting midweek af- 
fairs — baseball, basket ball. Also help- 
ing strangers to find employment." 

*' Through social meetings and annual 
banquet." 

" Through social rallies and bowling 
club." 

" By getting ever}^ man to bring an- 
other fellow to the social." 

V. By Visitation. 

" We have just started on the work of 
following up a city canvass. One hun- 
dred and fifty names were handed to us 
as expressing a desire to join our class." 

" We become acquainted with persons 
eligible for membership by visiting fam- 
ilies." 

" W^e call on all newcomers in the 
church congregation." 

VI. Class Contest. 

" Our class is divided into red and blue 
divisions. Captains and assistants work 
for new members and highest average." 

" We divide the class into ten groups, 
each with a section leader to solicit new 
members. Each section works for high- 
est results." 

" This class is divided into red and 



blue divisions, and the captains and their 
assistants get most of them. The rivalry 
causes all to work for new members." 

VII. By Using the Mail. 

" We mail invitations every week." 

" Personal interviews, followed up 
with sending them Lesson Leaflets, etc., 
through the mail, brings in most of our 
new members." 

" We use postal cards announcing 
' Something Special,' in the form of hard 
questions to be answered." 

" First, we had a Red and Blue Contest. 
Then we wrote four sorts of letters on 
a mimeograph each week. First, thank- 
ing those present and urging each to get 
one new member. Second, missing the 
absent one and hoping for his presence 
the next Sunday. Third, thanking the 
new member for his interest and plan- 
ning some work for him to do. Fourth, 
to the prospective members. These let- 
ters varied each week." 

" We frequently distribute among our 
membership little cards and ask each 
member to write upon his card the 
names of three or four acquaintances 
who he thinks might, upon our invita- 
tion, be induced to join our class. We 
then send to such proposed members 
an invitation to attend some of our 
special sessions, and, in that invitation, 
state that we have been requested to 
invite him by Mr. John Jones, the mem- 
ber who presents his name. We think 
this plan works very well." 
-K -K -K 

COMMITTEES TO LOOK AFTER ABSEN- 
TEES AND SECURE NEW 
MEMBERS. 

Question 8. — Do you have a commit- 
tee to look after absentees and secure 
new members, or do you look after this 
work yourself F 

One hundred and twenty-two report 
having committees to look after ab- 
sentees. 



12 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



One hundred and eleven teachers 
do this work in part or as a whole. 

Sixty do not report. 

Many teachers who report having 
no committee say that the whole class 
acts with the teacher as a " committee 
of the whole." 

On the other hand, in many cases 
where a teacher reports having a com- 
mittee, he states that he also helps in this 
work. 

Several say, " Instead of having a 
committee we divide the absentee list 
among those present to be looked up." 

Quite a number report, " The secre- 
tary looks after this work." 

A number of teachers say, " The com- 
mittee works for new members, and I 
look after the absentees myself." 

A number of others say, " We use 
committees largely and work the com- 
mittees." 

One teacher says, " We have a com- 
mittee of captains to look after this 
work." ^ ^ ^ 

EFFICIENCY OF COMMITTEES. 

Question 9. — If you have a Visiting 
Committee, hozv zvell does it do its work? 

Fifty-five say that committees work 
satisfactorily, and that they have noth- 
ing to complain of. 

Forty-four reports show more or less 
dissatisfaction with the work done by 
committees. 

Twenty-three do not report. 

Some speak very enthusiastically of 
the work of their committee, and mention 
special items in connection with it. 

" Our Visiting Committee does very 
good work. We have a special fund for 
the use of the ' Sick Committee.' This 
is raised by selling our class pictures, 
which are taken every quarter." 

" Our committee works exceedingly 
well. Each member of the committee 
has a district of eight blocks square, 
around his home." 

13 



" Our visiting committee are of the 
gilt-edged variety, doing their work con- 
sistently, cheerfully, thoroughly." 

'' We have one ' watchman ' for every 
ten members. Our visiting committee 
of five men call where the watchman's 
visit fails.^' 

"The committee is divided into four 
sections covering the city and making 
monthly reports." 

" The committee does splendid work ; 
makes as high as fifty calls a week." 

" Our committee does well, but needs 
pushing." 

" We have a visiting committee only 
when a member is sick. This committee 
is appointed specially by the class presi- 
dent from among the sick man's friends. 
The plan works well." 

^' Under the direction of the advisory 
committee the class as a whole acts as 
a visiting committee and does good 
work." 

" Our committee do good work among 
those they know, but it is difficult to 
get them to look after strangers." 

" Our best plan is to bring up cases 
of absentees in the class and call for 
volunteers to visit them." 

" Each Monday evening our commit- 
tee calls on our Sunday class visitors." 

*' We call for a report from our visit- 
ing committee each Sunday." 

" We permit no one to stay away with- 
out being visited many times. ' Hustle ' 
is the word." 

. *' The more I come in contact with peo- 
ple the more I am convinced that if the 
members of committees and classes are 
shown their responsibility with regard 
to the successful performance of some 
work, they will do that work. In almost 
every instance I have found that lack of 
self-confidence had a great deal to do 
with hindering committeemen from 
work. My men do everything but teach 
the lesson." 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



DIFFICULTIES REGARDING MEM- 
BERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE. 

Question 10. — What are your chief 
difficulties regarding membership and at- 
tendance? 

Two hundred and one report difficul- 
ties met with. The following is a sum- 
mary of these : 

I. Prejudici: Against Going to Sun- 
day-school. 

" The wrong notion which is held as 
to the Sunday-school." 

" Prejudice against attending school 
with the ' kids.' " 

" General indisposition of men to go to 
Sunday-school." 

'' Getting men into the habit of going 
to Sunday-school. It's new to them." 

" Overcoming prejudice against Sun- 
day-school teaching." 

*' The usual one — think they are too 
old for the Bible school." 

II. Hard Work During thk Wee:k. 

" Late hours kept by business houses 
on Saturday night." 

'' Stores and offices being worked till 
midnight, Saturday." 

'* Sleeping Sunday morning." 

'' So many are attending college and 
have to study until late." 

'' Girls feel the need of rest on Sunday 
after working in the city all the week." 

" Sunday, with college and high-school 
students, is very generally taken up 
with preparing lessons for Monday." 

" The fact that most of our people are 
working people and often too tired to 
come out on Sunday." 

" People say they lack time. It is a 
chase for the dollar." 

" The great drawback is with those 
who keep late hours on Saturday night." 

III. Outside: Attractions on Sunday. 

*' Sunday golf and other attractions 
hurt attendance." 



*' There are so many other attractions." 

" Other engagements." 

" J\Ien too busy with other matters." 

" Going visiting on Sunday." 

'' Summer sacred concerts." 

IV. Sunday Employments and Sun- 
day Dutie:s. 
" Many of our members are in the 
employ of the railroad company and can- 
not attend regularly." 
" Home duties." 

" Persons the age of those in our class 
usually have families and frequently 
plead home duties as excuse for tardi- 
ness and absence." 

'' Some have to work on Sunday." 
" Work at home Sunday mornings." 
" Some housekeepers find the Sunday 
noon hour filled with home duties." 

V. Transient Pupils. 

" Class is largely transient through 
students from out of town being here 
only part of the time." 

" Business colleges keep scholars com- 
ing and going away from the city." 

" We have very irregular attendance 
— each Sunday different members." 

'' Young women from awa}^ working 
in the city and spending Sunday at 
home." 

VI. Social Life and Social Distinc- 
tions. 

" Social engagements take up the time 
and the interest." 

" Social life of the town kills desire 
of many for membership in such a class." 

'' Many of the class seem only to want 
congenial fellows invited into the class." 

" Relative discrepancies in mental and 
spiritual standards mar the unity of the 
class." 

'' It is hard to make every man feel 
his place in the class and to carry on a 
class to fit all." 

Note. — Social distinctions are seldom 
mentioned as a difficulty. 



14 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



VII. Indi^i^erknce to Spirituai. 
Things. 

" It is the same old difficulty. Lack 
of interest in Sunday-school and Bible 
study." 

'' The main difficulty is lack of appre- 
ciation of the need of Bible knowledge." 

" The great trouble is keeping the 
devil from stealing the boys who have 
been ' tough.' " 

" We seem to have most difficulty in 
arousing spiritual enthusiasm." 

" It is hard to interest those who are 
not at all interested in religious matters." 

VIII. Wdathkr and Distance to 

Church. 

" Fine weather interferes with attend- 
ance." 

" Bad weather spoils the attendance. 
The class evaporates in bad weather." 

" Especially good or especially bad 
weather interferes with the attendance." 

'' Weather and distance. I live four 
miles from the church myself." 

" Summer weather and vacation dissi- 
pation." 

" Distance of church from the homes." 

" Distance from the school. Young 
men, when boarding, claim they cannot 
get a good dinner when late home from 
school." 

" Lack of attendance partly because 
church is down town and remote from 
the residence portion of the city." 

IX. Taking Substitute Teachers 

FROM the Class. 

" Our class is constantly drawn upon 
for teachers." 

" Continual draft for teachers when 
the class is assembled." 

" Members being called upon so much 
for substitute teachers." 



SPECIAL EFFORTS TO REACH THOSE 
NOT CHRISTIANS. 

Question IL — Are any special efforts 
made to induce non-Christians to attend 
your class? 

One hundred and thirty-five answer 
" Yes." 

Sixty-nine answer " No." 

Eighty-nine do not report. 

M MM 
OCCUPATION OF MEMBERS. 

Question 12. — It will interest me to 
know the occupation of the members of 
your class. 

Of those reporting in detail ninety- 
eight per cent, seem to be free from all 
appearance of class distinction, there 
being merchants, lawyers, editors, in the 
same class with clerks, factory em- 
ployees, carpenters, miners, laborers. 
The only classes reported in which the 
members are all of similar occupation 
are those in college towns, where classes 
are composed of students and teachers. 

¥ M M 

FURNISHING SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS 
FOR THE SCHOOL. 

Question 13. — Does your class furnish 
teachers for the school? 

One hundred and fifty answer " Yes." 

Forty-three answer " No." 

One hundred do not report. 

Question 14. — Does it seem to have a 
had effect on the class to have its mem- 
bers taken for teachers? 

Forty-nine answer " Yes," some bit- 
terly complaining. 

" Yes, our best are taken for teach- 
ers." 

" Yes, decidedly." 

" Yes, it has a bad effect on them and 
on me." 

" Yes, it has a bad effect as far as the 
class is concerned." 

'* It has a bad effect on the class, but 
not on the individual member." 



15 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



" It has at times almost broken up my 
class/' 

" The effect is very bad." 

Sixty-eight answer " No." 

" It does no harm, except the con- 
fusion of their retiring from the room." 

" No, they still retain their member- 
ship." 

'' No, they expect it." 

" No, it does no noticeable harm." 

" No, we feel that when a member 
teaches she is doing good service." 

*' No ; to the contrary, it has a good 
effect." 

CLASS LIBRABIES. 



Question 15. — Does your class have a 
library f 

Two hundred and seven answer " No." 

Fourteen answer " Yes." 

Seventy-two do not report. 

Many speak of having the use of the 
regular school library. A few say they method.' 
have their own reading-room and club 
room open all the week. 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 

Question 18. — In teaching, do you ask 
questions of individual members, lead in 
a free discussion, or use the lecture meth- 
od? 

Forty-seven report asking questions 
from individual members. 

Twenty-eight report leading in free 
discussion. 

Fifty-two say they use the lecture 
method. 

Ten do not report. 

One teacher says : " Questions are 
asked, but not personal ones." 

" The class discuss questions raised on 
the lesson if they appeal to them ; if they 
do not I am left to do all the talking." 

Others say: 

** I avoid lecturing." 

" I lecture only as a last resort." 

" The lecture method would kill my 
class." 

" Have been driven to the lecture 



-K -K -K 



COURSE OF LESSONS USED. 

Question 19. — Do you use the Inter- 
national Lessons? If not, what course 
^ . 1^ r^ 7 7 r ■ 1 of lessons do you use? 

Question \6.—Docs the class furnish Qne hundred and fifty-six report using 
news about its doings to the local press? International Lessons 

One hundred and ninety-eight answer Fifty-six use other courses. 

Eighty-one do not report. 
Teachers of classes who do not use 
the International Lessons report as fol- 
lows : 

" We have different methods : some- 
TIME TAKEN FOR THE LESSON. ^j^^^ ^^^ jjfg ^f ^ Scripture character. 

Question 17. — How many minutes do sometimes questions suggested by mem- 
you usually have for the lesson? bers of the class." 

Fifty-one answer twenty to twenty- " We are studying the Gospel of 



Jf 5f 3f 

FURNISHING CLASS NEWS TO THE 
PRESS. 



Yes." 

Seventy-two answer " No.' 
Forty-six fail to answer. 

¥ M M 



five minutes. 

One hundred and thirty-nine answer 
thirty to forty minutes. 

Fifty-one answer forty minutes or 
more. 

Forty-eight do not report. 



John." 

" We are studying the Life of Christ." 
"We are studying Paul's Missionary 

Travels, etc." 

" We are studying the Comprehensive 

Life of Christ." 



16 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



" We are studying the Epistle to the 
Hebrews textually, historically, and for 
its spiritual lessons." 

"We are studying a graded lesson 
course and are often addressed on re- 
ligious topics by prominent men." 

" We began with character studies 
from the old Bible, and have kept it up 
ever since." 

" We take up a book of the Bible and 
go straight through it." 

" We are studying the Gospels with 
the help of a Harmony as a guide." 

" This year we are using Character 
Studies." 

" In our Friday meeting of the class 
we use blackboard outlines on some great 
subject." 

" We develop some thought of current 
interest, hinging the talk upon a suitable 
Bible text." 

" We are studying the Apostolic 
Church, with no lesson helps, using the 
different versions of the New Testament 
and consulting Bible Dictionary, Con- 
cordance, and other books of reference." 

" We are taking up special lessons with 
essay work and outside reading." 

A good many say they use their own 
lesson course arranged by a committee 
from the class. 

Jf 5f 3f 

COMPLAINTS REGARDING LESSONS 
USED. 

Question 20. — Are the lessons that you 
use satisfactory? If not, will you kindly 
give me the chief reasons why? 

One teacher says : 

'' The main lack is want of continuity 
in some emphasized prominent thought 
or idea." Another says : 

" There seems to me to be unnecessary 
repetition of topics and texts which are 
more closely related than they need to 
be." 

One teacher says: 

" I do not think it expedient or profit- 



able to break the series each quarter with 
either a temperance or a review lesson." 

Another says: 

" We need more frequent reviews." 

Others report : 

" I have never found just the course 
I wanted, so with a broad study I make 
out my own. No one can teach what he 
gets from another." 

" The continuity of the Bible history 
and geography is hard to keep before 
them." 

'' We use the lesson only as a text for 
talking on some subject that will ' grip 
men.' " 

Jf 3f )f 

LESSON PREPARATION. 

Question 21. — What proportion of the 
members of your class study their les- 
sons outside the Sunday-school hour? 

Thirty-two report that twenty per 
cent, study the lesson. 

Forty-nine report fifty per cent, study 
the lesson. 

Twenty- four report seventy-five per 
cent, study the lesson. 

Fourteen say nearly all prepare their 
lessons. 

M M M 

ASSIGNING TOPICS. 

Question 22. — Do you assign topics 
some time ahead on which the members 
of the class may prepare themselves? 
If so, how does this seem to work? 

One hundred and twenty-four claim to 
assign topics more or less frequently and 
report as follows : 

" It works well." 

' It improves attendance." 

" It is productive of good results." 

One hundred and seventeen say that 
they do not assign topics and that they 
cannot use this method successfully in 
their classes. 

" They do not seem to want to take 
time to prepare these and the lessons, 
too." 



17 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



" We meet with indifferent success." 

" For a while I used ' Look-up Ques- 
tions,' but soon the novelty wore off." 

" I have tried it, but with poor suc- 
cess." 

" We have tried it, but members would 
stay away." 

" The time for class work is too limited 
for such assignments." 

*' We are too old for it." 

" I thought it didn't work well and 
stopped it." 

^ A- ^ 

HOW LESSON HELPS MAY BE 
IMPROVED. 

Question 23. — How do yon think les- 
son helps could be improved so that 
members of your class would be more 
interested in studying the lesson at home 
and discussing it in the class f 

(This question was asked for our own 
information as editors and publishers of 
lesson helps.) 

Seventy-nine suggest improvement. 

Ninety-eight say they have no sugges- 
tions to make. 

Twenty-two fail to make any com- 
ments. 

3f 5f 3f 

TEACHERS' HELP NEEDED. 

Question 24. — As a Bible class teacher, 
of what help do you feel the need, which 
you do not -find in the Lesson Helps you 
have been using? 

Seventy- four give suggestions in an- 
swering this question. Others do not 
report. The following is the substance 
of suggestions given. 

" Library books bearing on the les- 
sons." 

'' A brief question book on the whole 
Bible to be used as supplemental work." 

" Suggestions for blackboard illustra- 
tion of the lessons." 

" A condensed synopsis dealing more 
fully with the application of the lesson." 

" A few suggested thoughts that would 



voice the felt need in the hearts of pres- 
ent-day men and women." 

" I would like to have more help along 
social lines so I could develop my class 
socially." 

" Practical application of lesson truth 
to the life of mature persons." 

" More practical ideas and good illus- 
trations." 

" Plain, terse, practical interpretations 
of the Bible that will help young men in 
business life and young women in the 
home." 

" Something to make Bible teaching 
more real and practical." 

-K -K -K 

BIBLE STUDY MEETINGS OUTSIDE 
THE SCHOOL. 

Question 25. — Have you had Bible 
study meetings with the class outside the 
school? If so, have they been success- 
ful? 

Forty-four report having such meet- 
ings. 

One hundred and eighty-eight report 
that they do not have any. 

Twenty-four do not report. 

As to the success met with by those 
having such meetings, the reports are as 
follows : 

" We have had a few at my home." 

" Yes, we have them at my home, the 
first Monday in every month." 

*' Yes, we have met, with good suc- 
cess." 

" Occasionally with excellent results." 

" Good success. We meet Monday 
evenings at my home." 

" Yes, good success, with the few who 
come." 

*' Yes, very successful, but not large 
enough attendance." 

" We tried them, but they were not 
very successful." 

" Splendid for a young men's class."V^ 

'' It is not practical with my class." 

" We have a mid-week Bible class 



18 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



under the auspices of the * Class Secret 
Service ' committee, where we carry on a 
critical and practical and consecutive 
study of the Bible under the direction of 
the pastor. To this class belong all those 
who really wish to discuss and under- 
stand the Bible. It prevents that same 
discussion in the classroom on Sunday, 
and often before uninterested and incom- 
petent hearers. This may not be the best 
way, but we have had fair success. We 
work under this motto : ' Make us better 
first.' We lay stress on the ' simple gos- 
pel ' that has transformed so many of 
our boys from ' notorious toughs ' into 
stalwart Christians." 

)f )f Jf 

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE 
CLASS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL. 

Question 26. — Does your class itself 
do any work outside the Sunday-school, 
as, for instance, does it hold religions 
meetings of any kind? If so, what? 

Thirty-two report helping in religious 
meetings, mission work, etc. 

The following are class activities re- 
ported : 

'' We hold Bible readings and prayer 
meetings at the ' Anchorage Rescue 
Home ' for girls and at * The Old La- 
dies' Home.' " 

'' We have a praying band which goes 
to churches and missions and conducts 
services." 

" We are now planning to hold a big 
young men's meeting some evening this 
month with an out-of-town speaker." 

*' Quite often our class has charge of 
the evening church service." 

" Our class takes charge of the weekly 
prayer meeting of the church occasion- 
ally, and holds Sunday afternoon meet- 
ings at ' The Home for Aged Men.' " 

*' Our class holds religious meetings in 
jails and hospitals and conducts cottage 
prayer meetings." 



" Our class assists in cottage meetings 
and mission work." 

" We are responsible for officering one 
or two mission Sunday-schools." 

" We hold meetings at the county jail 
and county poorhouse." 

" We hold shop meetings." 

*' Our class maintains a ' Personal 
Workers' Band,' which meets Friday 
evenings at 6 : 30 for lunch at the church, 
and follows this with a ' spiritual ex- 
change.' Then they go into the Y. P. 
S. C. E. service at eight o'clock." 

" Once in a while our class goes in a 
body and takes full charge of the mid- 
week meeting." 

*' Yes, we have full charge of the 
evening service in a country church." 

'' Yes, we are a club and take charge 
of the evening service once a month." 

'' Sometimes we hold Sunday after- 
noon meetings for men only, with a spe- 
cial speaker." 

'' We hold outdoor meetings and cot- 
tage prayer meetings." 

'* Several times a year we take charge 
of the Rescue Mission meeting, furnish- 
ing speakers and orchestral music." 

" We have regular meetings at a mis- 
sion in the suburbs." 

" We hold a weekly men's prayer serv- 
ice in our classroom." 

** About three times a year we hold an 
enthusiastic prayer and song service for 
men only." 

" We hold a religious meeting once 
a month in some part of the city remote 
from big churches." 

" We are planning for evangelistic 
shop meetings during noon hours." 

*' We hold a mass meeting of men 
Sunday afternoons for discussion of Liv- 
ing Problems in Religion and Social 
Science." 

" Our Glee Club has charge of the 
singing at the Young People's meetings 
on Sunday evenings." 

" We have what we call an ' Extension 



19 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



Committee ' that looks after the services 
in churches when we are invited to con- 
duct meetings." 

" We have a ' Music Committee ' in the 
class which selects those who have such 
musical ability as can be used in the 
chorus choir. The chorus choir of the 
church is made up so far as the male 
voices are concerned, entirely of men 
from ' The Bereans.' " 

" We took hold of a church seven miles 
out on the car line, which had been 
broken up by a church quarrel. We 
started a Sunday-school there and had 
mid-week prayer service, and ran it for 
a year. The church now has a pastor, a 
good Sunday-school and a young people's 
organized class." 

" We have enlisted as Judge Lindsey's 
helpers on Sunday afternoon, helping 
him in connection with his juvenile court 
work." 

)f 3f )f 

MISSIONARY, CHARITABLE AND 
BENEVOLENT WORK. 

Question 27. — Is the class as such in- 
terested in any charity or benevolent 
cause? If so, what? 

Ninety-eight report being interested as 
a class in missions or charity work. 

Many say they give and work mostly 
through the regular channels of the 
church. 

The following reports are given by 
those who tell of special work under- 
taken by the class: 

" We have educated a deaconess, be- 
sides giving money to many other 
causes." 

" We support two native missionaries 
as a class, and individuals in the class 
support three others." 

'' We help the poor with coal and pro- 
visions, having now twenty families on 
our list." 

'/ We have just taken up the work of 
supporting a native worker in China." 



" We gave fifty blankets to the poor 
last year for Christmas." 

" We support a missionary in Japan." 

" Our class is supporting an Indian 
orphan." 

" We have a loan fund for sick and 
unemployed members." 

" We take care of all sick and destitute 
members." 

" We have a loan fund, which is man- 
aged by a Trustee Committee. The 
money is raised by concerts, entertain- 
ments, and such features. We charge 
no interest upon loans, neither do we de- 
mand security." 

" We help pay the way of indigents 
at the hospitals." 

" We help mission work in our own 
city and support a native worker in 
China." 

" We contribute especially toward the 
Deaconess Home." 

" We give our especial attention to 
the sick and poor of our own city." 

" All our offerings are given to the 
church. This year we have given $200 
to the music fund, and have on hand 
$100." 

" We furnish cut flowers every Sun- 
day for the Sunday-school, and after- 
wards distribute them among the sick." 

" We support a child in an Indian mis- 
sion school and have given several din- 
ners to 250 poor children." 

" Each year we send money to the 
Fresh Air Fund in New York." 

" We support a scholarship in the col- 
lege of West Africa, at Monrovia, 
Liberia, Africa." 

" We try to make this class lead in the 
regular Sunday-school benevolences." 

" We have a benevolent fund to help 
sick members." 

" We are educating a native preacher 
in India." 

" We are educating a boy in a mission 
school in India." 

" We are interested in the Men's Re- 



20 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



sort, Florence Crittenden Home, and 
help support two missionaries." 

" We pay for a scholarship in the 
Ingleside Seminary." 

" We have a class fund out of which 
we contribute to the poor and to mis- 
sions; buy flowers for the sick, etc." 

M M M 

PROPORTION OF CHURCH MEMBERS 
IN CLASS. 

Question 28. — What proportion of 
your class are members of the church f 

Eighty-six report that all are church 
members. 

Ninety-seven report that seventy-five 
per cent, are church members. 

Sixty report that fifty per cent, are 
church members. 

Twenty-four report that twenty-five 
per cent, are church members. 

Seven report that less than twenty-five 
per cent, are church members. 

Nine do not report. 

-K -K -K 

PROPORTION OF CONVERSIONS IN 
THE CLASS. 

Question 29. — How many members of 
your class have become professed Chris- 
tians since you became the teacher? 

One hundred and sixteen teachers re- 
port all the way from five to one hundred 
members who have become Christians. 

>f Jf 4 
SEPARATE ROOMS FOR CLASSES. 

Question 30. — Does your class have a 
room by itself? 

Seventy-four report that they have 
their own classroom. 

Forty-one report that they do not. 

>f )f )f 
CLASS EXERCISES. 

Question 31. — If you have a separate 
classroom, do you confine yourself to 



the study of the lesson while in the room; 
or, do you have other exercises? 

One hundred and six report that the 
time in the room is used entirely for les- 
son study. 

Eighty-seven report that the exercises, 
while in the classroom, include other 
features. 

Question 32. — If you have other exer- 
cises, do you make music an attractive 
feature? 

Fifty-five answer "Yes." 

Eighty-nine answer '' No." 

One hundred and nineteen do not re- 
port. 

Question ZZ. — Does your class use a 
stereopticon for class work or special 
lectures? 

Ten answer " Yes." 

One hundred and seventy answer 
" No." 

Thirty-two do not report. 

M ¥ ¥ 

CLASS NAMES. 

Question 34. — Does your class have a 
class name? If so, what? 

One hundred and four report having 
a class name. 

Eighty-nine say they do not have a 
class name. 

The reports from a considerable num- 
ber of classes show them belonging to 
some general class organization such as 
Baraca, Philathea, Delta Alpha, Dan- 
forth Chevaliers, Yokefellows, St. Paul's 
Brotherhood, and Friendly Class. 

The following is a list of class names 
reported : 

Business Men's Class. 

Drop In Class. 

Boyd's Bible Class. 

The Earnest Club. 

Christian Soldiers. 

Joshuas. 

Wesley Class. 

The College Men's Class. 

Stewart Class Association. 



21 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



The Corner Stone Club. 

Acorns. 

Gideon Club. 

We Brothers. 

Busy People's Class. 

The Men's League. 

The " X " Club. 

Genesee Brotherhood. 

Sunshine Band. 

Volunteers. 

Willing Workers. 

Ravena Brotherhood. 

Joyce Class. 

Volunteer Bible Study Class. 

Friendship Class. 

Helping Hands. 

"Win One." 

Loyal Sons. 

Knights of the Square Table. 

Living Links. 

Success Club. 

Lincoln Brotherhood. 

Emersonians. 

King's Sons League. 

M -^ M 

CLASS PINS. 

Question 35. — Do you have a class pin 
or hut ton? 

Sixty-seven answer " Yes." 

One hundred and ninety-one answer 
" No." 

Several speak of wearing badges of 
class colors instead of pins. 

Many of those using class pins or but- 
tons report that they encourage class 
loyalty and class spirit. 

" The pin has helped greatly in re- 
spect to both loyalty and class spirit." 

" The fellows are proud of their col- 
ors and their class." 

" Pins are placed on each member at 
enrollment, no matter when or where 
that takes place, and this is the surest 
way I know of getting them to fulfill 



their promise to attend. It is almost as 
binding as exacting an oath." 

" Every time we enroll a member we 
place a pin on him in the class." 

" The teacher places a pin on each 
new member, with a few remarks on its 
significance and on what will be ex- 
pected of him as a wearer of such a pin." 

" All members of our class wear pins 
and they have greatly encouraged a class 
spirit." 

" I believe that class pins are abso- 
lutely essential to the best results in 
working with young men." 

M M M 

LENGTH OF TIME CLASS HAS BEEN 
ORGANIZED. 

Question 36. — // your class is now 
organized, how long has it been so? 

One hundred and forty-seven classes 
report being organized less than two 
years. 

Forty-four classes report being organ- 
ized less than one year. 

Eighty-eight classes report being or- 
ganized over two years. 

Fifty-nine classes say they are not 
organized, though most of these appear 
to have class officers and committees. 

Question 37. — If your class has been 
organized and is not so now, I would 
like very much to know why organiza- 
tion was given up. 

Only four classes report having 
dropped organization, and give the fol- 
lowing reasons : 

" Members were too far advanced in 
years for successful class life." 

" Difficult to get committees to do defi- 
nite work." 

" The girls are all so busy and some 
indifferent. Hard to get them out to 
meetings." 

" A lack of stability on the part of 
the members. Could not be depended 
upon." 



22 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



CLASS CONSTITUTION. 

Question 38. — Has your class a con- 
stitution f If so, I would be thankful 
if you would send me a copy. 

Seventy-eight report that they have a 
class constitution. 

One hundred and sixty-three report 
that they have not. 
(See page 68 for a model constitution.) 

Question 39. — // you cannot send me a 
copy of your constitution, could you tell 
me what oMcers and committees you 
have? 

The following officers and commit- 
tees are reported : 

President, Secretary, Corresponding 
Secretary, Treasurer, Captains, Section 
Leaders, Historian, Librarian, Reporter, 
Membership Committee, Social Commit- 
tee, Reception Committee, Grievance 
Committee, Visiting Committee, Relief 
Committee, Lookout Committee, Flower 
Committee, Devotional Committee, 
Music Committee, Hustlers Committee, 
House Committee, Athletic Committee, 
Boosting Committee, Extension Commit- 
tee, Employment Committee and Vesti- 
bule Pickets. 

-K -K -K 

SUCCESS OF COMMITTEES. 

Question 40. — Do you have trouble in 
getting members of your class to work 
on committees? 

One hundred and twenty-six report 
that they have no difficulty. 

Thirty-seven report to the contrary. 
Fifty-one do not report. 

¥ M M 

CLASS ALUMNI. 

Question 4L — Do you have a class 
alumni composed of persons who can no 
longer attend? 

Thirty answer " Yes." 
Two hundred and twenty-six answer 
'' No." 



23 



RECENT OUTSIDE WORK DONE BY 
CLASSES. 

Question 42. — In my study of your 
work it will help me if you will write 
out a list of the things your class did last 
month outside the Sunday-school, as, for 
instance, did you hold a business meet- 
ing, a prayer-meeting, or have you given 
a social? 

The following are some of the special 
kinds of work reported for the month. 

" Class entertained at teacher's home." 

'' Social for members' parents and sis- 
ters." 

" Quarterly Devotional Service in 
place of review lesson." 

" Finished raising $100 pledge toward 
the church debt." 

'' Sent flowers to the funeral of a baby 
and also to a member of the class. Sent 
supply of groceries to a poor family." 

" A dinner conference at the teacher's 
house to consider new members." 

" Played five games indoor ball and 
had a class banquet." 

" Banquet, fifty-two men present, also 
special Sunday service." 

" Took charge of evening service at 
the church." 

" Got men's supper, together with an- 
other class of men of the church." 

" Gave regular monthly social meet- 
ing at the home of one of our members." 

" Held stag social in the Y. M. C. A." 

" Two business meetings in connection 
with the opening of our club room and 
reading-room ; also a debate." 

" Personal workers class met." 

" The committees all held separate 
business meetings. One committee gave 
a social and two more are planned." 

'' Held a great ' Secret Service ' 
prayer-meeting." 

M M M 

ANNUAL CLASS BANQUET. 

Question 43. — Do you have an annual 
banquet or some other regular, impor- 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



tant annual social event? If so, what? 

Eighty report that they have an annual 
banquet. 

Sixty report that they have other 
annual events. 

One hundred and sixty-three do not 
report. 

(See pages 90, 91, 92 for class ban- 
quet invitations, toasts, etc.) 

5f jf * 
BESULTS OF CLASS ORGANIZATION. 

Question 44. — Has organization re- 
sulted in people coming to the class who 
did not attend before? 

One hundred and thirty-seven report 
that it has. 

Eighteen say that it has made no ma- 
terial difference. 

Fifty-seven do not report. 

Question 45. — As a result of organ- 
ization are members of your class at 
work who had been doing nothing be- 
fore? 

One hundred and thirty-seven report 
favorable results. 

Nine report that it has made no spe- 
cial difference. 

Sixty-six do not report. 

THE SECRET OF CLASS INTEREST. 

Question 46. — Outside your personal, 
distinctive, spiritual work with the mem- 
bers, what do you think is the one thing 
that keeps up the interest in your class 
more than anything else? 

The following are some of the an- 
swers given: 

I. Organization and Work oi^ Class 
Ofi^icers and Committees. 

" A constant getting after people by 
members of the class." 

" Personal work and zeal of devoted 
Christians on the committees. We have 
a devoted band of twenty or more who 
can be counted on for any sacrifice." 



" Class organization." 
" The Personal Workers Band." 
" Promptness and continual attend- 
ance of officers." 

" Efficiency and zeal of our class presi- 
dent." 

" Enthusiasm of the class officers." 
" Activity of committees, especially 
the membership committee." 

II. Class Spirit and Class Loyalty. 

" An uncommonly strong class feeling 
of mutual affection and loyalty." 

" Class loyalty to the work of the pas- 
tor and church." 

" The fact that the members feel the 
class is theirs." 

" A class spirit that makes them anx- 
ious to make a good showing." 

" Class spirit and the fact that no man 
is ever criticised for any attempt to say 
something in the class." 

*' Loyalty to the school and pleasant 
associations." 

" They are aware they are accomplish- 
ing something and are proud of it." 

" Friendly relations between teacher 
and scholars." 

" The feeling of the class, as a whole, 
that they are an important element in the 
Sunday-school and the church." 

" Personal responsibility on the part 
of each member for the success of the 
class." 

" A keen sense of Christian fellowship 
— no caste." 

" Members taking an interest in each 
other outside the Sunday-school." 

" Class spirit in the shape of healthy, 
good-natured rivalry." 

III. Sociability and Social Features. 

*' Social spirit of the class organiza- 
tion." 

" A genial, free spirit — no sanctimoni- 
ousness." 

" Our monthly socials held in the 
homes of the members." 



X 



24 



Summary of Reports from Successful Classes. 



" Spending occasional evenings at the 
teacher's home, remembering birthdays 
with some small, personal present or let- 
ter." 

'' The social featvire — the class presi- 
dent shakes hands with every member 
and stranger as they enter the class- 
room." 

" The spirit of sociability and helpful 
friendliness is a large factor." 

*' Fellowship and expressions of sym- 
pathy and help in times of trouble." 

" The ' glad hand ' to strangers. The 
class ' mixes ' well." 

'' We * boom ' the class and make every 
man feel at home." 

IV. Interest in Biblk Study. 

" Desire to gain definite knowledge of 
the Bible." 

'' Desire to know what the Bible really 
teaches." 

" The opportunity for Bible study." 

" The value of the lessons is the only 
attraction. They are sorry if they miss 
one." 

" Individual interest in Bible study." 

" Thorough teaching of the lesson and 
the practical application of it." 

" Bible study along rational lines and 
the general helpfulness of the meetings." 

" Bible study is the main thing, but 
treated practically rather than doc- 
trinally." 

" Getting them to study the Bible for 
themselves, and not take it second- 
hand." 

'' The fact that the course outlined is 
interesting and stimulates study." 

" Intense interest in the connected, 
progressive study of the Scripture." 

V. Giving the: Class Individual 
Work. 

" Giving everyone something to do." 

" Making everyone feel he is needed 
and appreciated, and must do his part 
for the general good." 

" Our strength lies in getting our 



members interested and to work, and in 
making the class work so interesting and 
profitable that a young man will want to 
come Backl" 

" One secret of class success has been 
that every officer and member in the 
class has had placed upon him some duty 
to perform, and we have guarded against 
giving members some little ' milksop ' 
thing to do. We have aimed instead to 
give each fellow some duty that would 
make him use all of his ability." 

VI. Miscellaneous Reasons. 

" Looking after the outcasts, especially 
dissipated men." 

" The athletic work and the fact that we 
are not satisfied with present conditions, 
but constantly looking for and talking 
of greater success to come." 

" Having the classroom cut off entirely 
from the rest of the school and a free 
and easy feeling while in the room." 

'' The opportunity for free expression 
of religious experience." 

" Attractive surroundings, convenient 
hour, good music, something doing in 
social affairs." 

" I think the evangelistic spirit, the 
constant striving for conversions, ear- 
nest seasons of prayer in the classroom, 
the teaching of cheerful, joyous religion, 
the upholding of the ' Manly Christ,' and 
the building of the social life around the 
class, have done most." 

-K -K -K 

DIFFICULTIES OF CLASS 
ORGANIZATION. 

Question 47. — What seem to be the 
great diMculties with which you have 
to contend as an organised class f 

In answer to this question reports 
given were similar to those under Ques- 
tion 10. No reports indicated special 
difficulties growing out of class organ- 
ization. 



25 



Summary of Eeports from 

SUPFRINTEi^^DENTS. 



LETTER TO SUPERINTENDENTS. 

Below we give letter of request sent 
to 10,000 Sunday-school superintendents 
scattered throughout the United States 
and Canada, representing both city and 
country schools. This letter was accom- 
panied by a Question Blank. The fol- 
lowing pages give questions asked and 
summary of reports received. 

Our reasons for making this call are 
indicated by the questions themselves. 
We particularly desired not only to se- 
cure names of any especially successful 
classes, but to learn from the superin- 
tendent's standpoint the present condi- 
tion of adult Bible class work, wavs in 
whtch the work might be improved, and 
difficulties met with in this connection. 

Dear Friend: We are planning to 
publish a small book containing helpful 
suggestions for adult Bible class work, 
telling of various ways of working, in- 
cluding latest and best methods. For 
this purpose I wish to learn all I can 
about present conditions, the difficulties 
to contend with, etc., also new and suc- 
cessful ways of working. I am sending 
the enclosed " Information Sheet " to a 
number of representative superintend- 
ents, East and West. I want in this 
way not only to learn all I can from 
superintendents, but to place myself in 
touch with a large number of adult Bible 
class teachers, and, later, to write to 
them. 

If you will kindly fill out and return 
me this " Information Sheet," I will, as 
soon as my new book is out, send you a 
copy of it free of charge. If, in addi- 



tion to filling out this sheet, you will 
write me your views regarding what can 
or ought to be done for adult classes, I 
will be much pleased. 

In most schools, aside from teachers, 
there are comparatively few adults, ex- 
cept it may be aged people and older boys 
and girls. If we could draw into the 
Sunday-school the great mass of young 
energetic men and women of the com- 
munity, it would of course give greater 
strength to our schools. It would insure 
our having an abundance of money for 
all needs and plenty of persons to draw 
from for teachers. From what has al- 
ready been done in some schools, I am 
led to believe that this is possible, and 
that, too, with little or no work on the 
part of the superintendent or school 
officers. It is in order to determine this 
that I wish a report from you. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, I re- 
main Yours sincerely, 



SUMMARY OF REPORTS. 

Reports received, 1095. 
AGE AND SEX OF ADULT CLASSES. 

Question 1. — Please give the name and 
address of the teacher of each adult class 
in your school; also indicate, by a cross, 
in one of the spaces that follozv, the kind 
of class that is taught. 

Nine hundred and forty-five report 
one or more classes of old people, the 
majority of these being mixed classes. 

One thousand and twenty-two report 



26 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



one or more classes of young people. 
These are nearly equally divided between 
mixed and those which are of one sex, 
young ladies' classes predominating. 

-K -K -K 

CLASSES MEETING OUTSIDE THE 
SCHOOL. 

Question 2. — If any of these classes 
have regular meetings outside the school, 
for any purpose, at any time except at 
the Sunday-school hour, please put a 
cross (x) in front of the name of the 
teacher of the class that holds such meet- 
ings. 

One hundred and thirty-eight report 
classes having such meetings. 

Nine hundred and fifty-seven report 
no such meetings. 

)f 3f Jf 

TIME FOR LESSON DISCUSSION. 

Question 3. — Do your adult Bible 
classes have more time for lesson discus- 
\sion in the class than the rest of the 
school? 

One hundred and fiftv-eight answer 
'' Yes." 

Nine hundred and sixteen answer 
" No." 

Twenty-one do not report. 

M M M 
FURNISHED WITH LESSON HELPS. 

Question 4. — Are the members of your 
adult classes furnished zvith lesson helps 
of any kind? 

Nine hundred and twenty-eight an- 
swer *' Yes." 

One hundred and fortv-nine answer 

" No." 

Jf )f 3f 



CLASSES ASKED TO 
TEACHERS. 



SUPPLY 



Question 5. — Do you draw regular and 
substitute teachers from your adult Bible 
classes? 



27 



Eight hundred and ninety-eight report 
drawing both regulars and substitutes. 

Twelve report drawing only substi- 
tutes. 

Six report drawing only regular teach- 
ers. 

One hundred and seventy-nine report 
that adult classes are not drawn upon for 
teachers. 

M M M 

CLASSES TAUGHT BY PASTORS. 

Question 6. — Does your pastor teach 
one of your Bible classes? If so, which 
one? 

Three hundred and ninety-nine answer 
" Yes." 

Six hundred and eighty-six answer 
" No," except, occasionally, as substi- 
tute. 

Four report schools withotit pastors. 

Six do not report. 

M M M 

NEW PLANS OF WORK. 

Question 7. — Have you any new, up- 
to-date plans that you yourself have 
thought out or adopted, that are working 
unusually well among adidts in the Sun- 
day-school in securing larger attend- 
ance, or in increasing interest in the prep- 
aration of the lesson? If so, please tell 
us about them. 

Four hundred and fifty-four answer 
" No." 

Six hundred and forty-one tell of plans 
of work. 

The most promising of the plans given 
are as follows: 

The figures in parentheses indicate 
the number of similar replies received, 
where there was more than one. 

I. Assigning Definite Home Work. 
'' Special questions are given each 
Sunday to a certain number, to which 
written replies are requested for the fol- 
lowing Sunday." (28.) 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" Questions are assigned one Sunday 
to be answered orally the following Sun- 
day." (20.) 

** Printed question slips are used." 

" Topics are assigned in advance ; dis- 
cussion questions are sometimes pre- 
pared. These are a great interest pro- 
ducer." (2.) 

" A question budget." 

" Written answers to questions are as- 
signed, graded and returned as per day 
school." (2.) 

" We offer a prize for the best essay 
on the lesson." 

II. The: Lksson Discussion Hour. 

" We use Lesson Contests." (8.) 

'' We take up the discussion of ques- 
tions that have to do with modern life." 
(5.) 

" The teacher calls for verses and fa- 
miliar quotations from Bible, and each 
tries to find them first." 

"Bible exercise drill." (4.) 

" A series of questions are planned, a 
few taken up and discussed each Sun- 
day." 

'* The teacher asks for a condensed les- 
son summary from some member at the 
beginning of the lesson study, calling for 
the same from another member at the 
close." 

" The teacher gives each member a 
chance to express an opinion on the les- 
son, timing all speakers to one minute." 

(9.) 

" We use a ' work record ' system 
which keeps a complete record of class 
work of every member." 

" A special word is assigned for the 
day, and all quote Bible verse containing 
the same." 

" The teacher tries to make the lesson 
study hour so helpful for everyday life, 
by the discussion of practical questions, 
that adults will feel it is worth while to 
come." (12.) 



" Class lesson discussion." (6.) 
'' Doing away with the lecture method 
of teaching." 

" Practical illustrations of the lesson, 
using lesson objects whenever possible." 
(2.) 
" Blackboard used freely." (6.) 
" Class debates . on some pertinent 
topic in the lesson, each speaker allowed 
one minute." 

" Members of class taking turns at 
teaching the class." 

" Quarterly written examinations." 
" Pupils take turns in teaching the re- 
view lesson." 

" Use of the stereopticon in the re- 
view." (3.) 

III. Increasing Membership. 

" Asking for a definite increase on a 
certain Sunday always brings good re- 
sults." 

'* Special Lookout Committees are ap- 
pointed to greet and invite to the class 
strangers present at the church serv- 
ices." 

'* We have an Honor Roll, the mem- 
ber who brings in a certain number of 
new members having his name placed 
thereon." (2.) 

" We have found the Red and Blue 
Contest a wonder worker in the way of 
bringing in new members." (8.) 

" Each member is assigned some spe- 
cial person to win into the class." (2.) 

" Special printed invitations are sent 
to parents through the children in the 
Intermediate and Primary Departments." 

" A personal visit is made on every 
member of the church congregation." 
(10.) 

" House-to-house canvass of the com- 
munity." (12.) 

'' Personal work committees." (6.) 

Note. — Nearly all who suggested plans 
under this heading speak of the value 
of personal visitation and invitation. A 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



number used printed cards. Some send 
these out by mail, others by special mes- 
sengers. In many cases the members 
carry cards with them all the time and 
use them when occasion is presented. 
Some put them in hotels, railroad sta- 
tions, stores, factories, etc. 

IV. Securing RkguIvAR Atti:ndance. 

" We use the plan of giving a banner 
to the class having the largest attend- 
ance and collection." (16.) 

" Personal visitation of absentees." 
(10.) 

" The standing of each class is posted 
on bulletin board." (2.) 

" We have used an attendance con- 
test." (15.) 

" We have a supervisor to look after 
attendance." (3.) 

" We use printed absentee cards." 
(6.) 

" A rose or carnation is offered to 
every member of the class having best 
attendance for a month." 

" A follow-up system is conducted on 
business principles." 

"We use a credit system." (3.) 

" A group photo is made of class hav- 
ing the best attendance record for a cer- 
tain period of time, a photo given to 
every member of the winning class." 

V. Opening and Closing Exercises. 

'* Introducing some interesting facts 
about the Bible has proved interesting." 

" Competitive Bible exercises and 
drills have helped." (2.) 

*' Supplemental work for opening ex- 
ercises." (2.) 

" Promptness in beginning and clos- 
ing." (4.) 

" Special music." (5.) 

" Special days celebrated rousingly." 
(3.) 

" Definite new program each Sunday." 

(2.) 
" Sunday-school choir." (2.) 



" Class songs." (2.) 

" Each adult class takes turns In fur- 
nishing a special number on the pro- 
gram for the opening exercises." 

"Orchestra." (3.) 

Note. — Nearly everyone that sug- 
gested a plan at all speaks of the value 
of variety in the opening and closing 
exercises. 

VI. The Social Life oe the Class. 

" A personal acquaintance with every / 
member of the adult classes by the super- ' 
intendent helps." 

" Sunday-school socials." (8.) 
'- Suppers given to members of the 
school." (7.) 

" Special interest in times of marriage 
of members, etc." (3.) 

" Athletic club for young men." 
" A lecture course for the adult 
classes stimulates attendance." 

" Class dinners." (3.) -^ 

" A class in one school has regular 
meetings once a week from six to nine 
o'clock, time divided for lunch, writing 
of letters to absentees, study of the les- 
son, music, discussion of plans of work." 

VII. Organization. 

" Organization is the best means of " 
solving all adult class problems." (44.) 

" Brotherhood organization — supper ' 
once a month — big thing." 

" Organization has increased member- 
ship and attendance." 

" Organization — semi-monthly debates 
at club meetings." 

" Young men's ' Personal Workers ' 
class — meets every Friday night for 
lunch and to plan work." 

'' Organization — greatest help — 
monthly socials, specific work undertaken 
for church or missionary object." 

" Organized classes are proving won- 
der workers. They take care of them- 
selves and keep getting in new members. 
Have social gatherings, etc." 



29 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



VIII. Miscellaneous. 

'' Our adult class use a monthly letter 
of general interest to every member. 
This is written with the aid of mimeo- 
graph." 

" We distribute among the church 
members and congregation a small tract 
on the duty and privilege of attending 
Sunday-school." 

'' Our church motto is : Every member 
of the church in the Sunday-school and 
every Sunday-school member an attend- 
ant at church." 

" We are careful to have persons with 
a common interest in one class. For ex- 
ample, young men, young married peo- 
ple, fathers' and mothers' class, older 
ladies, musicians, high-school seniors, 
etc." 

" Our most successful classes are com- 
posed entirely of young married people." 
(14.) 

" Conducting everythmg on a business 
basis, one that will appeal to men of 
business principles. (7.) 

*' A prayer circle." 

" Rewards offered for any good sug- 
gestion from members of the class on 
management, etc., of the class." 

" All work for the day in connection 
with program, class affairs, etc., planned 
four weeks ahead." (2.) 

" Red letter days." (4.) 

" The class supports a native mission- 
ary in the Philippines." 

" Adult classes take turns in furnish- 
ing flowers for Sunday-school — compete 
for finest display, flowers passed on to 
league and church, and next day sent 
to sick members of class furnishing them 
or to members of the school." 

*' Special interest in times of sickness, 
death in family of member, etc." (3.) 

3f 5f 3f 

SUCCESSFUL TEACHERS. 

Question 8. — Have you that rare treas- 
ure — a specially successful Bible class 



teacher? If so, please tell us which one? 

In reply many superintendents indi- 
cated names of one or more teachers 
whom they considered were entitled to 
be called especially successful. 

Question 9. — Do you know of such a 
teacher in any other school? If so, 
please give name and address. 

In answer to this question quite a num- 
ber of successful adult Bible class teach- 
ers were reported. 

)f )f )f 

DIFFICULTIES. 

Question 10. — What do you feel are 
the greatest difficulties with which adult 
classes have to contend in your school? 

Nearly every superintendent reported 
some difficulty with which his adult 
classes had to contend, very few claim- 
ing they had none. Some of these diffi- 
culties were peculiar to a certain locality 
or a certain class of persons, but most 
of them were general. 

I. Public Sentimejnt Against Adults 
Attending Sunday-school. 

" The prevalent idea that the Sunday- 
school is for children." (487.) 

" The twentieth century idea that the 
Sunday-school is meant for children 
only." (3.) 

*' The modern but mistaken idea that 
the Sunday-school is a * children's ' 
school." (12.) 

" Fear ridicule for attending Sundav- 
school." (8.) 

II. Lack of Competent Teachers. 
" Lack of that rare treasure, a spe- 
cially successful Bible class teacher.'^ 

(8.) 

" Teachers that will prepare their les- 
sons." (224.) 

" Lack of systematic effort on the part 
of the teacher." (3.) 

" Teachers who are willing to step 



30 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



* down and out ' when the class has out- 
grown them." (8.) 

'' Lack of ' magnetic ' teachers who 
have the faculty of teaching." 

'' Difficulty of securing teachers for 
men." (2.) 

" Difficulty of securing men teachers." 
(3.) 

"Can't get rid of old teacher." (4.) 

" Having to keep a poor teacher for 
fear of offending him." (3.) 

" Teachers who do not follow up work 
during the week." (3.) 

III. Dii^i^icuLTiEs During Le:sson 

Hour. 

" Shortness of the time allowed for 
the discussion of the lesson." (87.) 
'' Lack of systematic study." 
** To get members to talk." (14.) 
" Class discussion left to a few." (8.) 
" Too much useless discussion." (10.) 
" Lack of spirituality in the class." 

(2-) 

" A tendency to visit and discuss cur- 
rent topics of the day." (8.) 

" Whispering and talking on every- 
thing but the lesson." 

" Timidity in speaking." (5.) 

" Getting members to think independ- 
ently." (3.) 

" People with set views wishing to 
argue." (8.) 

IV. Irrkgularity of Attendance:. 

" We are troubled because of removals 
from one place to another — shifting pop- 
ulation." (3.) 

" Young people leaving small towns 
to go to cities." (2.) 

'' They come one Sunday and stay 
home the next." (18.) 

'' The teacher is irregular, and class 
correspondingly so." (17.) 

" It is impossible to keep up a good 
attendance record." (35.) 

" Thev stay home for the slightest ex- 
cuse." (6.) 



31 



'' On rainy Sundays nobody comes." 
(2.) 

" Our young people go to college — 
home only during vacations." 

*' They come when they have nothing 
else to do." (8.) 

'' Too hot in summer and too cold in 
winter." (3.) 

" Get up too late in the morning." 
(10.) 

"Tardiness." (5.) 

V. DiiFi^icuivTY OF Building Up Me:m- 

BERSHIP. 

" It is difficult to get young men into 
the school." (7.) 

" Cannot get fathers and mothers to 
come." (6.) 

'' We lack the enthusiasm that goes 
with large numbers." (3.) 

" The brightest and best intellects of 
the church refuse to connect themselves 
with the Sunday-school." (2.) 

*' We haven't enough to invite new 
members to come for." (2.) 

" We have not enough persons of one 
kind to form a class." (2.) 

VI. WORLDUNESS. 

" Too much society and too many 
other entertainments to attract attention 
during the week." (6.) 

" Taking Saturday nights for amuse- 
ments so that they can rest the next 
day." (15.) 

" Love of pleasure." (27.) 

" Time and strength taken up with 
selfish entertainments." 

" The general atmosphere of worldli- 
ness which surrounds the young people 
of to-day." (4.) 

" The general interest of adults in 
fraternal societies." (6.) 

" Love of ease." (8.) 

VII. Busine:ss Cares. 
" Many of our young people work 
very late Saturday night and are not 
physically able to come Sunday." (18.) 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" * Self ' the ' paramount issue.' " 

" Desire for money and exertions to 
get it sap all their energy during the 
week." (14.) 

" That tired feeling — want to go home 
to eat and sleep — the one day in the 
week when they can eat leisurely and 
sleep as long as they please." (2.) 

"Rush to get rich." (14.) 

" Greed for gold." (7.) 

VIIL Indiffe:ri:nce and Ge:ne:ral 
Lack of Interest. 

" Indifference to need of Bible knowl- 
edge." 

" Indifference." (231.) 

"Indolence." (86.) 

" Carelessness." (23.) 

"Negligence." (6.) 

" Lack of interest in the study of the 
Bible." (27.) 

" No enthusiasm." (3.) 

" Cannot get church membership in- 
terested in the Sunday-school." (6.) 

" Depending upon teacher to give in- 
struction instead of studying the lesson 
themselves." (3.) 

" Lack of development of relish for 
genuine Bible study." (7.) 

" Parental indifference to the Sunday- 
school." (9.) 

" The home influences are not con- 
ducive to religious development." (12.) 

" The Sunday-school has made little 
effort along the line of attracting adults." 

(4.) 

" The pastor is indifferent to the Sun- 
day-school and does not urge adults to 
attend." (18.) 

" The pastor does not urge adults to 
attend Sunday-school for fear it will pre- 
vent them from attending church." 

" The pastor does not come to Sunday- 
school — how can we expect the congre- 
gation to do so ?" 

" Adults fail to realize the importance 
of the Sunday-school in the church and 
community." (5.) 



" Sunday-school not made enough of." 
(3.) 

" Indifference of church members to 
Bible study." (11.) 

" Parents say ' Go ' to their children 
instead of ' Come with us.' " (3.) 

IX. Need of Separate Classrooms. 

" We are unable to have separate 
classroom for our adult classes." (56.) 

" Adults won't come when they have 
to be ' mixed up ' with the youngsters." 
(3.) 

" Confusion from other classes." (7.) 

" There is little accommodation for 
adult classes provided in the average 
Sunday-school." (3.) 

" We cannot have use of blackboard, 
charts, maps, etc., because not in sep- 
arate classroom." (3.) 

" Have to keep voices so low in order 
not to disturb other classes that they can 
scarcely be heard." 

" Lack of discipline among the 
younger members of the Sunday-school 
annoying to older ones." 

X. Lack of Lesson Preparation. 

" Cannot get teachers for adult classes 
who will prepare their lessons thor- 
oughly." (82.) 

" Teachers read the lesson over and 
then think they know all about it." 

" Teachers read the lesson over dur- 
ing the opening exercises and then try 
to teach adults. Adults won't stand for)C 
it." (6.) 

" When asked a question members 
read answer from the lesson help." (5.) 

" Members of class will not do home 
work." (187.) 

" Members seem to feel that the half 
hour in Sunday-school is for the study 
of the lesson, and so do not look at it 
until they get there." (24.) 

" Home work which is assigned is neg- 
lected." (6.) 



32 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" Lack of study of Orientalisms of the 
lesson on the part of the teacher." 

" We cannot get adults to study the 
lesson sufficiently to intelligently discuss 
it in class." (15.) 

XL Inconvenient Hour oi^ Meeting. 

" The church class meetings are held 
at the same hour as the Sunday-school, 
and adults go there." (2.) 

" Mothers have to go home to prepare 
dinner." (23.) 

'* Young people, if boarding, miss din- 
ner if they stay to Sunday-school." (12.) 

" Most mothers are too busy getting 
the children ready to attend, and haven't 
time to get there themselves." (4.) 

" Sunday-school is held too early in 
the morning. We can't get the young 
people up and out in time." (6.) 

" Conflicts with the dinner hour." 
(64.) 

"Conflicts with home duties." (16.) 

" Men go for the mail at that hour — 
the only time during the day they can get 
it." (3.) 

XII. MiSCEIvI^ANEOUS DlEElCUIyTlES. 

" Sectarian strife." 

" Constant drain on the class to sup- 
ply substitute and regular teachers." 

" Inability to get short, concise, 
pointed lesson helps for busy people." 
(3.) 

" Settled opinions — each one thinking 
his views of the Bible are more nearly 
right than anyone's else." 

" Thinking the Sunday-school is a 
,, place to gain historical knowledge rather 
/^than learning how to live right." 

" Leaving the school when they 
marry." (6.) 

" Conscience eased and duty done by 
attendance at church services." 

" Real or imaginary lack of time." 

" Failure of the church to recognize 
and emphasize the Sunday-school as the 
teaching arm of the church." 



38 



" Adults fail to realize the possibilities 
of the Sunday-school." 

" Adults forget that the Sunday-school 
is the greatest educator in the country 
morally and intellectually." 

'' Sunday-school not given the promi- 
nence it should have among the church 
societies." (12.) 

-K -K -K 

BIBLE STUDY CLUBS. 

Question 11. — Is there in your com- 
munity a club, society, or other gather- 
ing that meets on some other day than 
Sunday for the study of the Bible f If 
so, please give us name of teacher in 
charge. 

Many such clubs or societies were re- 
ported. Of these about two-thirds were 
in connection with the Y. M. C. A., 
Y. W. C. A. and Church Young Peo- 
ple's Societies, such as Christian En- 
deavor, Epworth League, Baptist Young 

People, etc. 

-K -K -K 

WHY ADULTS DO NOT ATTEND. 

Question 12. — What zvould you give 
as the reason or reasons why more peo- 
ple in the prime of life do not become 
members of Sunday-school Bible classes? 

Note. — Many answers to this question 
were the same as those given in reply to 
Question 10. 

I. Prevalent Idea That the Sunday- 
school IS EOR Children. 

" It is a ' school,' and adults think they'''^ 
are past the school age." (32.) 

" Public sentiment is against adults at- 
tending Sunday-school," (26.) 

" Adults feel that they should have 
graduated from Sunday-school as they 
have from day school." (14.) 

" Adults think it is beneath their dig- 
nity to go to ' school.' " (18.) 

" The Sunday-school is called the 
* nursery ' of the church." (4.) 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" Feeling that their reUgious education 
terminated at about the same time that 
their secular education ceased." (13.) 

'' The Sunday-school is not dignified 
enough to attract older people." (6.) 

'' Think they have been over all they 
will get many times before when young- 
er." (4.) 

" Fear of being ridiculed for ' going 
back to school.'" (8.) 

'' Prejudiced against the Sunday- 
school." (3.) 

" Impression that religion is for 
women and children because religious in- 
struction is given mostly by the mother 
at home and usually by women in the 
Sunday-school." 

II. Not Worth While. 

" Old lines hashed over and no longer 
interesting." (2.) 

'' Belief that the modern Sunday- 
school is not teaching the Bible intelli- 
gently." (3.) 

" Lack of respect for the school as a 
really educational force." (15.) 

" Adults ' do not see anything in it.' '* 
(14.) 

Americans, like Missourians, have to 
be shown." 

" Sunday-school dull compared with 
other places." (8.) 

" Do not feel the need of the kind of 
help the school gives." (5.) 

" The Sunday-school does not meet 
the needs of adults." (32.) 

" They simply do not get enough out 
of it to make it worth while for them 
to come." (42.) 

" The Sunday-school not made suffi- 
ciently attractive." (28.) 

" The quality of teaching is beneath 
adults." (18.) 

" Lack of giving them something in- 
telligent and worth while to do." (16.) 

" Adults require something strong and 
out of the ordinary, and the Sunday- 
school does not supply it." 



III. Poor Te:achers. 

" Teachers know less than those the} 
are trying to teach." (18.) 

" Teachers take other people's thoughts 
and thrust them on the class instead of 
thinking for themselves." 

" Lack of general information on the ^ 
part of teachers." (3.) 

" Teachers teach * about ' the Bible, 
but do not teach ' it.' " 

" We want teachers who will give the 



something worth 



for. 



commg 

do all the 



class 
(53.) 

" Teachers who will not 
teaching themselves." (7.) 

" Teachers do most of the talking." 
(5.) 

"Teachers too ' preachified.' " (3.) 

" Teachers not up to the standard of 
intellectuality of adults." (14.) 

" The class needs teachers whose views 
and methods of presenting the lesson are 
broader than their own ' fresh from 
school and college ' minds." 

" Superficial instruction." 

" Bible study not made attractive and 
interesting by one who has the tact and 
talent to do it." 

" Commonplace teachers." (4.) 

" Teacher ' fills in time.' " 

" Adults do not care to come and hear 
a not very well-informed teacher tell all 
he knows or thinks he knows about a les- 
son." (3.) 

IV. Poor Methods. 

"Out-of-date methods." (12.) 

" Ruts — which is the grave with both 
ends knocked out." 

" Lack of system and organization."^ 
(3.) 

" Our present Sunday-school methods]^ 
are not applicable to adults." (7.) 

" Advance course of study needed."^ 

(4.) 
" The Sunday-school is in a rut." (4.) 

" Lack of leadership and organiza- 
tion." 



34 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" Lack of systematic management." 
(3.) 

" The Sunday-school is behind the 
times." (5.) 

" Antiquated methods." (6.) 
" Haphazard methods." (3.) 
" Not conducted on business princi- 
ples." (8.) 

" Laxity in management of school, 
which adults will not stand for." 

V. UnintkrKsting Lesson Presenta- 
tion. 

" Too much denominational teaching." 

(3.) 

" Lesson too dry — not brought down 
to everyday needs." (12.) 

" Can get more out of a good com- 
mentary and lesson help than by going 
and listening to one person's views on 
the lesson." 

''Dull lessons — people won't be bored 
in this way." 

" Too much feeding of chaff." 

" Presentation of lesson does not pro- 
voke thought." 

" Children have to swallow any in- 
struction they are sent to receive. Adults 
wont. 

" Prosy presentation of the lesson." 
(27.) 

" Lesson studied too much as history." 

" Lack of pra.ctical application of les- 
sons to problems of everyday life." (32.) 

" Class conducted along unpedagogical 
lines." (2.) 

" Too much denominational applica- 
tion of the lesson and not enough appli- 
cation of it to practical everyday prob- 
lems." 

" Lack of definiteness in teaching." 
(3.) 

VL Business Cares. 

" Sunday work in offices, railroads, 
by domestics, etc." (3.) 

" Physically tired out on Sunday from 
week-day work." (8.) 

" Lassitude and desire to rest." (3.) 



" On Saturday and Saturday nights 
people are expected to do one and a half 
day's work and are not fit to do much 
but rest the next day." (2.) 

" Sunday inspection of town lots and 
new buildings." 

" Grasping after wealth keeps people 
overworked." (7.) 

" Chasing the dollar so hard all week 
have to relax and rest on Sunday." (3.) 

"Press of duties." (3.) 

" Strenuous life many are leading — 
tired out when Sunday comes." (24.) 

''Week-day work too strenuous." 
(12.) 

" Lack of Saturday half holiday. 
When Sunday is the only day many peo- 
ple have for themselves they will take it 
for rest and pleasure, not for study." 

(5.) 
" Our gods are commercial divinities." 
" Adults have more responsibility upon 

them than children and more to take their 

time and attention." 

VIL Social Hindrances. 

" Sunday amusements — ball games, 
excursions, etc." (26.) 

" Taking Sunday to go driving with 
friends or with their family." (3.) 

" Sunday visiting among friends." 
(12.) 

" Outdoor attractions more inviting." 

" Sunday is the only day in the week 
they have a chance to get out into the 
fresh air and sunshine." (3.) 
. " Multiplication of secular organiza- 
tions." (3.) 

" More interesting places to go." (7.) 

" Love^ of pleasure which the Sunday- 
school does not supply." (3.) 

" Conflicting interests of week-day 
affairs." (2.) 

" Lack of spirit of fellowship such as 
exists in fraternities, clubs, etc." 

'* Adults connected with too many 
other church societies." (3.) 



35 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" They want to visit with their f am- 
ihes — only chance during the week." (9.) 

" Multitude of other attractions for 
young people nowadays." (3.) 

" Wanting Sunday free for pleasure 
and relaxation." (12.) 

"Clubs, lodges, etc." (15.) 

'' Sunday trolley rides out into the 
country." (4.) 

" Saturday nights taken for pleasure — 
too tired Sunday." (7.) 

" Numerous social duties demand time 
and strength." (13.) 
.4^ " For many Sunday is the only time 
~ they have for reading current literature." 

" Too many other places outside made 
more attractive than the Sunday-school." 
(6.) 

" Want time to read Sunday news- 
papers." 

" Can get more good out of a Sunday 
newspaper than out of a half-hour lec- 
ture by some half-informed person." 

" Desire to be out of doors." (H.) 

"Spare time given to labor organiza- 
tions, etc." 

" Too many counter attractions on 
Saturday night and Sunday." (6.) 

"Social life connected with class not 
lively enough to meet the needs of young 
people." (8.) 

VIII. Lack of Invitation. 

" Lack of invitation on the part of 
pastor and teacher and present mem- 
bers." (8.) 

" They receive no encouragement from 
the church and pastor." (12.) 

" They feel that they are not espe- 
cially needed in the school." (18.) 

" They never have had the need 
pressed home." (38.) 

" Have not had the matter properly 
presented to them." (17.) 

" Sending the wrong kind of persons 
to invite outsiders into the class." 

" Influence of church not exercised in 
Sunday-school direction." (11.) 



86 



" Lack of insistence by the church that 
every church member should be a Sun- 
day-school member." (3.) 

" Do not go after them properly and 
invite them to come, and then do not 
make proper preparation for their in- 
struction when they do come." (8.) 

IX. Out of the: Habit and Lack of 
Home: Training. 

" Adults are out of the habit of at- 
tending Sunday-school." (48.) 

" Lack of early home training along 
this line." (5.) 

" Home influences." (8.) 

" Allowing boys and girls to drop out 
of the Sunday-school at the critical age. 
Having to win adults into the Sunday- 
school instead of keeping them in the 
Sunday-school." (12.) 

" Out of the habit of studying." (18.) 

" Didn't form the habit when young, 
and hard to take it up now." (16.) 

" Prejudiced against it when about 
eighteen — hard to overcome the preju- 
dice." (5.) 

" Lack of early Christian training." 
(2.) 

" Not educated to the idea that the 
Sunday-school is for adults." (14.) 

" Intellectual laziness — won't study un- 
less they have to, or unless it is made 
very interesting." 

" Weaned away from the Sunday- 
school in youth." (15.) 

" Responsibility of the home keeps one 
or both parents away; they then get out 
of the habit and lose interest." 

X. Ashame:d of The;ir Ignorance. 

" Adults are sensitive about placing 
themselves where they have to show their 
ignorance of the Bible." (24.) 

" Ashamed to display their ignorance." 

" Learned very little about the Bible 

when in Sunday-school in their younger 

years, and now don't care to let others 

see just how little they do know." (7.) 



Summary of Reports from Superintendents. 



" Questions on history, geography, 
etc., brought up which they cannot an- 
swer embarrass them." (3.) 

" InabiHty to pronounce the words cor- 
rectly which occur in the lesson." (3.) 

XL Miscellaneous Dieipiculties. 

" The mixing of old and young in one 
class." (2.) 

" Too much hurry and rush and bustle 
about the Sunday-school." 

" Not given enough to do." (19.) 

" Get up too late Sundays to attend 
Sunday-school." (7.) 



" Lack of social life among the mem- 
bers." (3.) 

" Nothing definite in the way of re- 
sponsibility placed upon them — can come 
and go as they please." 

** Adult work in the Sunday-school has 
not been given proper attention." (9.) 

" The solemnity and * long faces ' of 
professed Christians." (2.) 

" Not able to dress as well as some." 

" Too many services on Sunday — can't 
take them all in." (5.) 

" Moving from the old school and neg- 
lecting to connect with one in new local- 
ity." 



SUMMAET OF KePORTS FROM OrDII^AET 

Adult Bible Classes. 



Below we give letter of request sent 
to the teachers of 700 adult Bible classes 
of the ordinary sort, scattered through- 
out the United States and Canada. This 
call was accompanied by a Question 
Blank for reply. The following pages 
give a list of the questions asked and a 
summary of replies received. 

Our reasons for making this call will 
be understood from the questions asked. 
We particularly desired to learn to what 
extent the teachers of such classes felt 
encouraged as to the future of adult 
Bible class work; also of any new plans" 
which might have been tried, including 
class organization. 

Dear Priend: We are planning to 
publish a small book of suggestions on 
Adult Bible Class Work, and I am seek- 
ing to learn all I can to help in preparing 
it. I am writing to Bible class teachers 
in various parts of the country, hoping 
to secure such information as will make 



rny book a great help to all such teach- 
ers. I enclose herewith an " Information 
Blank," which I would be very glad to 
have you fill out and return to me. If 
you will do me this kindness, I will 
send you a copy of my book when issued. 
I will also appreciate it if you will write 
and tell me in a general way about your 
class, or anything that interests you or 
troubles you regarding Bible class work. 

Reports from many quarters lead me 
to believe that the Adult Bible Class De- 
partment is soon to develop into a mighty 
movement in the Sunday-school world, 
and I am sure you will be glad to do 
everything you can to help this along. 

Hoping to hear from you soon, I re- 
main 

Yours sincerely, 



Total reports received from such 
classes, 267. 



37 



Summary of Reports from Ordinary Adult Bible Classes. 



LENGTH OF TIME TAUGHT. 

Question 1. — How long have you been 
teacher of the present class f 

Thirty-one report teaching present 
class for ten years or more. 

Forty-eight report teaching present 
class five years or more. 

One hundred and seventy-four report 
teaching present class two years or less. 

Fourteen do not report. 

M M M 
SIZE OF CLASS. 

Question 2. — What is the present en- 
rollment of your class? 

Two report over thirty-five. 

Forty report an enrollment of between 
twenty and thirty. 

One hundred and fifty-three report an 
enrollment of between ten and twenty. 

Fifty-eight report an enrollment of 
between five and ten. 

Fourteen do not report. 

M '¥^ M 
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE. 

Question 3. — What is the average at- 
tendance f 

Average attendance of twenty small- 
est classes, 5. 

Average attendance of twenty largest 

classes, 16. 

-K * -K 

GRADING OF CLASSES. 

Question 4. — About what age is the 
youngest member of class? The oldest 
member? 

Thirty-two classes have members from 
sixteen to eighty years of age. 

One hundred and fourteen classes have 
members from twenty to sixty. 

Forty-nine classes have members from 
forty to eighty. 

Forty-five classes have members from 
eighteen to thirty. 

Sixteen classes have members under 
twenty-one. 

Eleven do not report. 



38 



CLASS OF MEN ONLY, WOMEN ONLY, 
OR BOTH. 

Question 5. — Is the class for men only, 
women only, or for both? 
Men's classes reported, 63. 
Women's classes reported, 42. 
Mixed classes reported, 155. 
Do not report, 7. 

M M M 

LOOKING AFTER ABSENTEES AND 
SECURING NEW MEMBERS. 

Question 6. — Do you have a committee 
to look after absentees and to secure new 
members, or do you do all this work 
yourself? 

One hundred and nineteen teachers do 
all the work. 

Eighty-seven use both methods. 

Eighteen have committees. 

Seventeen say whole class acts as 
committee. 

One teacher says, " We have a boost- 
ing committee." 

Another says, " The Secretary gives 
me a list of absentees, and I ask those 
living near the absent ones to call." 

Still another reports, '' When roll is 
called some members take it upon them- 
selves to look after absentees." 

Jf 5f 3f 

TIME TAKEN FOR LESSON. 

Question 7. — How many minutes do 
you usually have for the lesson zvith the 
class? 

One teacher reports ninety minutes. 

Nine teachers report sixty minutes. 

Twenty-three teachers report forty- 
five minutes. 

Thirty-three teachers report forty 
minutes. 

One hundred and thirty teachers re- 
port thirty minutes. 

Thirty-seven teachers report twenty- 
five minutes. 

Twenty-five teachers report twenty 
minutes. 

Nine do not report. 



Summary of Reports from Ordinary Adult Bible Classes. 



SEPARATE CLASSROOM. 

Question 8. — Does your class have a 
separate room? If so, what other exer- 
cises do you have in the room aside from 
the study of lesson? 

Twenty-four say " Yes." 

One hundred and forty-five say " No." 

Ninety-eight do not report. 

In answer to the last part of question : 

Six report prayer. 

Three report singing. 

Seven say, " We go back to the main 
school for closing exercises." 

Five say they have some scholar give 
short review of previous lesson. 

Two say they have some scholar read 
the present day lesson. 

Others do not report. 

M ¥ M 

LESSON PREPARATION. 

Question 9. — What proportion of your 
members study the lesson before coming 
to the class? 

Seventy-three report twenty per cent, 
study the lesson. 

Fifty-six report fifty per cent, study 
the lesson. 

Fifteen report seventy per cent, study 
the lesson. 

Seventy-nine say, " Nearly all prepare 
their lessons." 

Forty-four do not report. 

-¥• M ¥ 

ASSIGNING TOPICS. 

Question 10. — Have you ever assigned 
topics on the lesson to certain members 
of the class beforehand, or otherwise had 
them help you? If so, how has this 
seemed to work? 

One hundred and thirty do not assign 
topics. 

Seventy-two assign topics more or less 
frequently and report as follows : 



Thirty-eight say it works well. 

Six believe it an excellent plan. 

Sixteen have tried it frequently, but 
have not found it very successful. 

Four say that after three months, or 
even less time, it becomes monotonous 
and the interest is gone. 

Five say it is difficult to do so because 
of lack of time. 

Three say they find it keeps members 
away the next Sunday. 

Sixty-five do not report. 

Below we give suggestive sentence re- 
ports : 

" The lady members of my class do 
not like to take part, but the men will 
respond." 

" Have had members prepare three- 
minute addresses on different subjects, 
and this plan has worked splendidly." 

'' Have had each ask a question on the 
verse they read." 

" I take charge of the lesson study for 
one Sunday in the month, and members 
of the class do so for the other Sundays." 

" I have some member introduce the 
lesson or get it started." 

" We read verse about, and let each 
comment or ask question on verse, in- 
viting help in this way." 

" I occasionally ask an interested 
member to lead the class on the following 
Sunday, with success." 

" I divide the lesson up into a number 
of subjects and then tell members to be 
ready to ask and answer questions on 
these." 

3f >f 5f 

PLANS TO INTEREST CLASS IN 
LESSON PREPARATION. 

Question 11. — What is the best plan 
you have tried to interest the class in les- 
son preparation? 

Below we give sentence reports in an- 
swer to this question : 

" Giving out questions to be looked 
up." 



39 



Summary of Reports from Ordinary Adult Bible Classes. 



" * The Socratic ' method. Do not lec- 
ture, but question each one. Their an- 
swers call out other questions. I aim to 
draw from them what I have in mind." 

" I appeal to their sense of honor and 
self-respect, touching knowledge about 
and of the Bible." 

" I put a good deal of importance on 
the connecting links." 

" I ask them to come prepared to give 
what seems to them the best thought 
of the lesson, and sometimes call for 
ways in which this has been most helpful 
to the individual." 

" We get so interested in the lesson 
study that it is almost impossible to close, 
and this gives an inspiration for the 
next lesson." 

" Breaking ground the Sunday before, 
calling attention to lesson connections, 
the writer, place and associations." 

" Assigning special topics for short 
papers (oral or written recitation) in 
advance." 

" Preparing topical analysis of the les- 
son a week in advance, and assigning 
topics with suggestive questions on these 
topics." 

" Inviting a free discussion in ref- 
erence to present needs and conditions." 

" I encourage them when they have 
studied their lessons or have answered 
questions." 

Jf )f sf 

PROPORTION OF CLASS WOT 
CHRISTIANS. 

Question 12. — What proportion of 
your class are not as yet Christians? 

Seventy-three say all, or nearly all, are 
Christians. 

Fifty-four say none as yet are Chris- 
tians. 

Forty-three are indefinite in their an- 
swers. 

Ninety-seven do not report. 



PROPORTION OF CONVERSIONS IN 
THE CLASS. 

Question 13. — What proportion of 
your class have become Christians since 
you began teaching the class? 

Thirteen say, '' All were Christians be- 
fore I took the class." 

Seventy-two report all the way from 
one to seventeen have become Chris- 
tians. 

A number speak of writing personal 
letters to members of the class who are 
not Christians. 

)f )f 3f 

SPECIAL EFFORT TO SECURE AS 

MEMBERS THOSE NOT 

CHRISTIANS. 

Question 14. — Has any special effort 
been made to secure as members of the 
class those who are not Christians? 

One hundred and two say '^ Yes." 
Ninety-two say " No." 
Eighteen say only a general invitation 
is given. 

Fifty-five do not report. 
¥ M M 

CHIEF THING NEEDED TO INDUCE 

ADULTS TO ATTEND SUNDAY 

SCHOOL. 

Question 15. — What do you think is 
the chief thing needed in order to induce 
more adults to attend Sunday-school? 

One hundred and forty do not answer 
this question. 

The following is the substance of sug- 
gestions, many giving the same : 

Figures given in parentheses at the 
close of quotation indicate the number 
of persons making the same suggestion. 

" Better teaching — consecrated men 
and women — those having a sympathetic 
and social nature." (24.) 

" Make people feel that they are 
needed and give them personal invita- 
tions to come." (21.) 

" Have business methods in conduct- 
ing the Sunday-school." 



40 



Summary of Reports from Ordinary Adult Bible Classes. 



" Make Bible study interesting, help- 
ful, convincing, with enough thought in 
it to make it worth while to attend Sun- 
day-school." (3.) 

" More interest in those who do not 
attend." (10.) 

*' Make the class or school sessions 
more interesting to them." (5.) 

" Have prompt attendance in all de- 
partments." 
^ " Personal work by enthusiastic adults 
already in the Sunday-school." 

" Show them their duty toward them- 
selves and their families." 

" Be really interested yourself, and, 
as a rule, they will be." 

" Get them converted and they will 
feel their responsibility for themselves 
as well as others." 

" If we could only get people to live 
instead of profess religion I think this 
question would be solved." 

" Persistent effort on the part of 
church people to make Sunday-school a 
part of their work." 

" Have classes arranged for them ac- 
cording to taste, disposition and Chris- 
tian experience." 

" Visit them in their homes and have 
a Home Department secretary to look 
after them." 
y. " Have more room for the adult class 
in the Sunday-school — a separate room 
for them." 
,^ " The social feature is one of the 
strongest inducements to-day." 

" Give them straight, spiritual teach- 
ing in language they can understand. 
Give them facts. Talk like you talk 
about ' hogs and corn.' " 

" Get the world to see that the Sun- 
day-school is not for children only." 

" More of true Holy Ghost religion." 

" If members of the church would at- 
tend Sunday-school others would." 

" Less visiting, dinner getting, and 
pleasure riding on Sunday." 

" Dispense with lodges and club rooms. 



41 



which keep people up late Saturday 
night." 

" Get rid of the Sunday morning news- 
papers." 

" Have a Christian Sabbath — all busi- 
ness suspended." 

" Make the adult Bible class one for 
special study, especially as helpful in 
religious experience and daily life." 

" Picture to them the stumbling blocks 
they are to the rising generation." (6.) 

" Get the name of each citizen in your 
community and send to each an invita- 
tion." 

'' The great need is for more people 
to get as much interested in their souls' 
welfare as in their financial affairs." 

" A greater belief in the conversion of 
children and a greatly increased interest 
in bringing that about." 

-K -K -K 

HOW LESSON HELPS MAY BE 
IMPROVED. 

Question 16. — How do you think Les- 
son Helps could be improved so that 
members of your class would be more 
interested in studying the lesson at home 
and discussing it in the class? 

This question was introduced for our 
own information, as editors and publish- 
ers of Lesson Helps. 

Sixty-two suggest improvements. 

One hundred and thirty-two have no 
suggestions to make. 

Seventy-three do not answer this ques- 
tion. 

3f Jf 5f 

TEACHERS' HELPS NEEDED. 

Question 17. — As a Bible class teacher, 
of what helps do you feel the need which 
you do not find in the Lesson Helps you 
have been using? 

Fifty-two give suggestions in answer- 
ing this question. Others do not report. 
The following is the substance of sug- 
gestions given: 



Summary of Reports from Ordinary Adult Bible Classes. 



" Good maps. Outline plans of sub- 
ject matter. Blackboard, crayon, chalk 
talks." (6.) 

" Bible encyclopedia, giving full his- 
torical and biographical data." 

" Something to make Bible teaching 
more real and practical." 

'' Something to make Christ more per- 
sonal as a Savior of men." 

" I feel the need of a teachers' meeting 
occasionally, which we do not have in 
our school." 

" More information concerning the 
people, their habits, manner of life and 
surroundings at the time of the lessons." 

" More good, practical illustrations." 

(7.) 

" Condensed Bible Dictionary giving 
pronunciation of Bible words." 

" A biographical sketch of each im- 
portant Bible character," 

" Illustrative stories that are forceful 
and of practical common sense." 

M M -¥• 
CLASS ORGANIZED OR NOT. 

Question 18. — Is your class organized, 
having class oificers, committees, etc.? 

Thirty-four say " Yes." 
One hundred and sixty-three say 
" No." 

Seventy do not report. 

5f )f 3f 

TRIAL or CLASS ORGANIZATION. 

Question 19. — Have you ever tried to 
make your class an organized one and 
failed? If so, zvill you tell us why you 
failed? 

One hundred and thirty-seven answer 
" No." 

Three answer indefinitely. 

One hundred and twenty-seven do not 
report. 



None mention having tried class or- 
ganization and failed. 

-K -K -K 

GREAT EVENTS WITH THE CLASS. 

Question 20. — Do you have any great 
events with the class, 'such as an annual 
banquet or outing to look forward to 
and help hold the class together? 

Fifty-five say " Yes." 

One hundred and sixty-four say " No." 

Thirty-three do not report. 

The following is a summary of re- 
ports : 

" I am now planning a fishing party 
for my class of young men." 

" The class gathers annually at my 
home." 

" We have a social meeting in connec- 
tion with each one of our quarterly ex- 
aminations." 

" We have an annual reunion every 
year, at which time the members of the 
class, with their wives, gather at my 
home. The minister and his wife and the 
superintendent are also invited." 

" I invite the class about three times 
each year to spend an evening at my 
home. I always serve refreshments." 

" Our New Year's party is our annual 
affair." 

" We have a social and literary even- 
ing once each month." 

" We usually close our year with a 
supper and reimion." 

*' We have an annual examination. 
Those whose average is above ninety per 
cent, receive a gold medal at a public 
meeting. We have an address by some 
prominent person." 

Five or six say they have at least one 
annual class party and supper. 



42 



Class Mottoes and Class Songs. 



CLASS MOTTOES. 

The value of a class motto seems to be 
recognized by very many adult Bible 
classes. 

It helps to noble aspirations and ef- 
forts, and tends to give confidence in 
one another. 

Some change their mottoes each year 
and others retain the same one. 

One of the most common mottoes re- 
lates to securing new members, and is 
usually stated in the following phrase : 

"Get the other fellow" (see John 1: 
41, 42). 

It is sometimes varied thus : 

" To win the last man." 

" Let no one escape." 

Other class mottoes are : 

" Let no man despise thy youth ; but 
be thou an example of the believers, in 
word, in conversation, in charity, in 
spirit, in faith, in purity " (1 Tim. 4: 12). 
(Brotherhood Bible Class, Marshall- 
town, Iowa.) 

''Search the Scriptures" (John 5: 
39). (Wesleyan Bible Class, Chicago.) 

" Bear ve one another's burdens, and 
so fulfill the law of Christ " (Gal. 6:2). 
(Young Ladies' Bible Class, Mayer 
Chapel Sunday-school.) 

" Make your life count for something." 
(Eldest Daughters of the Church, Bap- 
tist Sunday-school, Cedar Falls, Iowa.) 

" They searched the Scriptures daily " 
(Acts 17: 11). (Mrs. Hartman's Bible 
Class for Young People, Fort Wayne, 
Ind.) 

" Be not slothful in business, fervent 
in spirit, serving the Lord" (Rom. 12: 
11). (Dewey Bible Class for Men, First 
M. E. Sunday-school, Rochester, N. Y.) 

" Study to show thyself approved unto 
God" (2 Tim. 2: 15). (Home Mission 
Class, Second Baptist Church, Bangor, 
Maine.) 

" Help whoever, whenever you can, 

Man forever needs aid from man." 

(Hemenway Men's Class, Evanston, 111.) 



" Thy word is a lamp unto mv feet " 
(Ps. 82: 105). (Epworth Bible Class, 
Western Avenue M. E. Sunday-school, 
Chicago. ) 

" Every member a Christian and every 
Christian a better Christian." (Class 
Seventeen, Auburn Park Baptist Sunday- 
school, Chicago, also several others.) 

" I do always those things that please 
him" (John 8: 29). (Lael Class, Bel- 
den Ave. Baptist Church, Chicago.) 
-K HK -K 

WESLEYAN CLASS SONG. 

Wesleyan Class, Western Ave. M. E. 
Sunday-school, Chicago. 

Tune — '' Battle Hymn of the Republic^ 

The Wesleyan Class was founded for the 
study of God's Word; 

And the teaching of its lessons many 
thousand souls have heard ; 

And the inspiration of it, scores of hu- 
man hearts have stirr'd. 
Our class is marching on. 

Chorus — 

Rally, rally, to the Wesleyans ! 
Come and visit with the Wesleyans ; 
If you like us join the Wesleyans, 
And we w411 do you good. 
Our motto — " Search the Scriptures " — 

that we all may clearly see 
What our loved Redeemer's purpose is, 

concerning you and me ; 
And our object is to glorify the " Man of 
Galilee," 

As we go marching on. 

Time's lapse or stretch of distance can- 
not break the tender ties 

Binding now our class together, ev'ry- 
where beneath the skies ; 

From North to South, and sea to sea, 
the Wesleyan song shall rise, 
While we go marching on. 

When classmates are in darkness we will 
point them to the light ; 

Are they hard press'd in the battle, we 
will aid them in the fight, 



43 



And if wearied in the valley, we 
lead them up the height, 
And still go marching on. 

^ ^ ^ 
CLASS SONG OF CLASS SEVENTEEN. 

Auburn Park Baptist Sunday-school, 
Chicago, 111. 

Tune — '' America." 

We are a happy crowd,' 
We raise our voices loud 
Because we're glad ; 
Tho' near or far away 
Our thoughts will ever stray 
To those we know to-day, 
Class Seventeen. 

Our Father, dear, above, 
To thee we give our love, 
Our hearts and lives ; 
Oh, keep us every day 
Within the narrow way, 
And bless, oh, Lord, we pray, 
Class Seventeen. 

-K -K -K 

PRAYER SONG. 

Haynes' Class, Belden Avenue Baptist 
Sunday-school, Chicago, 111. 

Help us, O God, through all this week, 
To master self and conquer sin. 

Help us thy truth to ever seek, 
And let the light of Jesus in. 

-K -K -K 
EPWORTH CLASS RALLYING SONG. 

Epworth Bible Class, Western Ave. 
M. E. Sunday-school, Chicago. 

Tune — "" Rally Round the flag." 

We're enlisted for the right, friends, 

fighting 'gainst the wrong. 

Singing of Jesus, our Commander. 

We're the Epworth Bible Class, o'er two 

hundred members strong, 

Singing of Jesus, our Commander. 

We will welcome to our members the 
loyal, brave and true, 



Class Songs and Class Objects. 

will 



Singing of Jesus, our Commander. 
And in the Epworth Bible Class is the 
very place for you. 
Singing of Jesus, our Commander. 

Chorus — 

Our class, then, forever, forever we pray,, 
down with the evil. 
Let right rule the way, 
While we rally to our class, friends, rally 
once again. 
Singing of Jesus, our Commander. 

-K -K -K 

VAUGHN CLASS OPENING HYMN. 

Calvary Baptist Sunday-school, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

Tune— ^' Pleyel's Hymn:' 

Brothers of the V. C. C, 

Once again we greet you here; 

May we work in harmony 
For the cause we love so dear. 

Let us in our counsels here, 
Learn to do the Master's will; 

In a spirit of good cheer 
Seek to ease a brother's ill. 

Looking unto Christ our Lord, 
In his mercies may we trust; 

Trav'ling solely by his word, 
Till we reach our heavenly rest. 

MM M 

CLASS OBJECTS. 

Many classes seek to embody the ob- 
ject of class organization in a short, con- 
cise statement. Where such classes have 
a constitution, the class object is incor- 
porated in this. 

Below we give the class objects of a 
number of prominent New Movement 
classes. 

''The Young Men's Bible Class/'\ 
Forty-Hrst Street Presbyterian Church, \ 
Chicago. — The class is a brotherhood for \ 
the cultivation of supreme love for God | 
and companionship with him, and for 
self-denying love for each other and for/ 



44 



Class Objects. 

our fellow-men. This is accomplished, more intimate and personal acquaintance 
first, by prayer ; second, by Bible study ; with the Bible for daily guidance ; third, 
third, by fellowship ; and, fourth, by serv- to assist in developing the social and re- 
ligious life of the church and raise the 
standard of right living throughout the 
community. 

" Young Men's Class'' First Baptist 
Church, Canton, Ohio. — The objects of 
this class are, first, to promote among its 
members a more earnest Christian life; 
second, to advance its interests ; third, to 
increase the mutual, acquaintance of its 
members ; fourth, to afford them ma- 
terial assistance when necessary; fifth, 



ice. 

" Danforth Chevaliers," Syracuse, N. 
Y. — To promote the highest social and 
religious life among its members and the 
young men of the community. 

''Market Square Progress Associa- 
tion," a mixed class of the Market 
Square Presbyterian Church, German- 
town, Pa. — The object of this associa- 
tion is the intellectual and moral im- 
provement of its members, by holding 



religious and literary meetings and social ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ bring in other young 

entertainments. men. 

"Home Mission Class," Second Bap- '' ^f- -Pf'^'i ^[W<; Class," Central M. 

tist Chureh, Bangor, Me.-The object S.S^^f^' £l'',fl'f?i.5„«^Z^„'^! °'^1!^*^ 



of this organization shall be to promote 
the mutual improvement and entertain- 
ment of its members by religious socials 
and literary culture ; to promote the 
spirit of Christian brotherhood, and seek 



of this class shall be the study of the Bible 
and to encourage young men to lead a 
better life both morally and socially. 

"Dewey Bible Class for Men," First 
M. B. Church, Rochester, N. Y. — Its ob- 



to interest young men to unite with us. ject shall be to study the Scriptures and 



'' Vaughn Class Club," of Calvary 
Baptist Sunday-school, Washington, D. 
C. — The objects of this club are, first, 
to advance the interests of the class ; sec- 
ond, to increase the mutual acquaintance 
of its members ; third, to promote among 
them a more earnest Christian life; 
fourth, to afford them material assist- 
ance when necessary. 

'*' Plymouth Young Men's Bible Class," 
Buffalo, N. Y. — Its object shall be to 
encourage young men in a moral and 
Christian life, to promote the mutual 
welfare of its members and encourage 
the study of the Scriptures. 

''Business Men's Bible Class," First 

Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. shall be, first, to promote earnest Chris- 

— The purposes of the class are, first, to tian living by the study of God's Word ; 

collect 4n a religious organization a body second, to promote friendly acquaintance 

of men for social intercourse and for among its members; third, to bring in 

mutual helpfulness in the strengthening other young people ; and, fourth, to visit 

of moral character; second, to form a the sick. 

45 



promote the spiritual and social condi- 
tion of men. 

"" The Rippey Class," First Presby- 
terian Church, Geneva, N. Y. — Its object 
shall be to promote religious instruction 
and to improve the spiritual, mental and 
social condition of young men. 

" C. K. K. Scroon Class," North 
Church Sunday-school, Geneva, N. Y. — 
Its object shall be to promote religious 
instruction and to improve the spiritual, 
mental and social condition of young 
men. 

" Mrs. Lem R. Hartmans Bible Class 
for Yoking People," M. B. Sunday- 
school, Fort Wayne, Ind. — Its object 



The Social Committee. 



" Yokefellows" of the First M. B. 
Church, Auburn, N. Y. — The object of 
this society shall be the bringing together 
of young men for social, moral and in- 
tellectual culture, with the ultimate desire 
that they give themselves wholly to 
Christ. 

"' Spurden Class," Baptist Sunday- 
school, Fredericton, N. B. — Its object 
shall be to promote effective Bible study 
and to improve the spiritual and social 
condition of all young men connected 
with the congregation. 

"" Volunteer Bible Study Class," Dela- 
ware Avenue Baptist Church, Buifalo, 
N. Y. — The object of this class shall be 
to lead men to Jesus Christ and to teach 
them the Bible. 

''Class No. 4," First M. B. Church, 
BHzabeth City, North Carolina. — The 
object of our organization is to bind its 
members close together, thus enabling 
them to be more helpful to one another, 
and to give greater efficiency to the work 
of the class ; and, also, to provide social 
pleasures for them. 

M M ¥ 

THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE. 

BY GE^GRGE: F. ZANKIS. 
Pres. Hemenway Bible Class, Evanston, 111. 

The Social Committee of an adult 
class is a most important one. The social 
features should be of the highest char- 
acter. They should be such as will keep 
the present members more interested. 
They should make strangers feel inter- 
ested to.know how you conduct the other 
affairs of the class, if this is the way 
your class does things, and they will 
probably accept an invitation to attend 
Sunday-school and see for themselves. 

First, you will ask the duties of this 
committee. It should be the duty of the 
Social Committee to promote a social 
feeling in the class by means of socials, 
entertainments, etc. 

Second, the chairman of this commit- 



tee should be a man well established in 
business. This kind of a man can more 
easily plan for good entertainments, as 
his business relations will bring him in 
touch with people whom he can use in 
preparing his program. 

Third, a program should always be 
made worth listening to, and of an in- 
structive nature — one that will merit an 
admission fee — which, however, should 
never be charged. The carrying out of 
the program should be superintended by 
the members of the committee who ar- 
ranged it. Where this is expected of 
them, they are far more interested, 
knowing they have some part. 

There are many different kinds of 
programs. A few suggestions follow : 
Mock trials, old folks' concerts, patriotic 
games, debates, story-telling socials, va- 
cation experiences, chalk talks, personal 
life experiences from members of the 
class, musicals, etc. Sometimes classes 
take for discussion subjects in which one 
or more members are personally inter- 
ested, such as construction of a watch, 
the clearing-house, the manufacture of 
rubber, Bessemer steel, electric rail- 
roads, etc. 

When you have a large class and have 
these affairs at the homes of the mem- 
bers, perhaps it will be well to divide the 
class into sections, holding several gath- 
erings on the same evening. 

Friendships are easily formed at the 
home gatherings — much more so than at 
a large gathering held in the church. 

A class social brings the members to- 
gether in a way that helps them to know 
each other better. Later, they will feel 
freer to express their thoughts in the 
class. 

The value of an organized class de- 
pends upon what you get out of it for 
your personal self, and this depends upon 
what you put into it. The friendships 
made between the members at the 
monthly socials constitute one of the 



46 



Personal Invitation. 



chief sources of strength in any class. 
You can interest adults in a social way, 
where, perhaps, you can reach them in 
no other way. Where you accomplish 
this you secure members for your class. 
Manv classes give a social once 
a month during the winter. During 
the summer months other gatherings 
take their place to some extent, but the 
social interest should be encouraged at 
all seasons. At no time are all away on 
vacations, and, for those that are at 
home, picnics and outing parties may be 
planned. By doing this you will con- 
tinue the class spirit, and when the class 
is rallied in the fall, it will be much 
easier to round up everyone than if the 
class is permitted to drift through the 
summer months. 

M M M 

PERSONAL INVITATION. 

The following is a portion of an ad- 
dress by Marion Lawrance, Secretarv^ of 
the International Sunday-school Associa- 
tion, delivered at the last International 
Convention : 

I would like to tell you about a Sun- 
day-school I know, in Raleigh, N. C. 
This school is presided over by N. B. 
Broughton, and has a membership of 
nearly 1,500. How do they secure their 
members? They divide the city into sec- 
tions. To this young man or that young 
woman are given a certain number of 
houses to look after. When one family 
moves out and another moves in, the fact 
is reported to the Sunday-school. Then 
a systematic effort is at once made to 
interest and win the members of the 
new family into the school. I will tell 
you an incident in this connection which 
was related to me : 

A lady learned that a new boarder 
had arrived at a certain boarding-house 
in the section of the city of which she 
had charge. She went to the landlady 
and said, " I hear that you have a new 



47 



boarder. May I ask his name ?" " His 
name is Smith," was the reply. She 
wrote his name on a card and afterwards 
handed it to Mr. Broughton. The name 
of the newcomer being that of a young 
man, the card was turned over to Mr. 
Sims, the president of a young men's 
Bible class of about 150 members. 

On the following Sunday Sims held 
up the card, in the class, and said : " Fel- 
lows, here is a young man named Smith ; 
he boards at such a place, works at such 
a place. We must get him into our Sun- 
day-school. Who will take him on Mon- 
day? Hands up!" A hand goes up. 
" Who will take him on Tuesday?" An- 
other hand goes up. " Who will take 
him on Wednesday?" Another hand, 
and so on with Thursday, Friday, Sat- 
urday and Sunday. 

Monday morning a man goes to the 
store, and says : " Have you got a man 
here named Smith ?" " Yes ; I believe 
that is the name of that young fellow 
sweeping out the store." The man goes 
to him and says : " Is your name Smith ?" 
" Yes, sir." " Came to talk to you 
about the Tabernacle Sunday-school. 
We have a fine class. Come up next 
Sunday." " Very well, I will think about 
it. 

Tuesday. ** Have you got a man here 
named Smith ?" " Yes, there is the 
young fellow." " Is your name Smith ? 
I came to talk to you about the Taber- 
nacle Sunday-school. We have a fine 
class for fellows like you. What are you 
going to do to-night?" "Don't know." 
" We have a reading-room ; you will 
meet our pastor and our superintendent. 
Come along." 

Wednesday another man goes and in- 
quires for Smith, and invites him to the 
Sunday-school. 

Thursday another man goes in, and 
on Friday the same thing. 

On Saturday another man goes in and 
finds Smith. " I came to talk to you 



A Separate Classroom. 



about the Tabernacle Sunday-school. 
Have you heard about it this week?" 
" Heard about it ? Bless your life, I have 
not heard anything else ! You must be 
doing things down there. I will go to- 
morrow." "All right! That is what 
we want ! We are after you ; you are 
just the kind of a fellow we want." 

So on Sunday morning a man goes 
to the boarding-house, and the landlady 
says, " Smith has not been down to 
breakfast yet." The man says, " I will 
go up and see him." So he goes up, 
knocks at the door, goes in, and finds 
Smith in bed. " Oh, I thought you were 
going to the Tabernacle Sunday-school ?" 
" So I was, but I am too tired." He 
says, " All right ! We will let you off 
this time." He goes to the class and re- 
ports. The president says : " We did not 
land him this week. Who will take him 
next week?" I am told that there are 
fellows in that class that have been 
called on by one hundred boys before 

coming. 

* -K -K 

A SEPARATE CLASSROOM. 

The ideal home for an adult Bible class 
is a spacious, well-lighted, well-warmed, 
well-ventilated room, with a separate 
street entrance of its own, and movable 
partitions to make it a part of the main 
audience-room of the Sunday-school 
when desired. Such a room the class 
can furnish and adorn according to 
needs, comfort and taste. Thus housed, 
a class has the very best opportunities 
for work on Sunday, also for devotional, 
social and business meetings any day of 
the week. To such a class home mem- 
bers gather with pleasure, and invite 
their friends and strangers with satis- 
faction. It, in itself, becomes an attrac- 
tive advertising medium, a magnet not 
only with drawing but with powerful 
holding qualities. 

A few classes are happy in such ac- 



48 



commodations. Others have the ideal 
well before them and are working toward 
it, and, in the near future, such class 
quarters will not be uncommon. But 
to-day most classes have to be reasonably 
content under quite different circum- 
stances. Many have undisputed posses- 
sion of the auditorium of the church. 
Generally this is a good place. With 
some disadvantages, it has many ad- 
vantages, especially that of immediate 
touch with the congregation. Many 
adults may be persuaded to attend a 
Bible class in the very place where they 
hear the sermon, who could not be in- 
duced to go to another room or building. 
In a large auditorium several great Bible 
classes may be accommodated, each hav- 
ing its own section, and being well re- 
moved from other classes. Of course 
this precludes such separate class exer- 
cises as singing. 

In small churches, where it is neces- 
sary for the entire Sunday-school to 
meet in one room, a corner may be se- 
cured, and, at little expense, movable 
partitions introduced. At still less ex- 
pense, screens or curtains may be used, 
and give the class many of the advan- 
tages of retirement. How much a sim- 
ple device of this kind actually helps, 
most people would not believe until they 
have tried it. All the distracting scenes 
of the rest of the school are shut out. 
And, when this is done, the hum of 
voices and other necessary noises in the 
conduct of the school are almost or quite 
unnoticed. Many of the class features 
that are so helpful in a separate room, 
may be introduced behind screens. In 
some cases very successful classes at- 
tend the opening services of the whole 
school and then retire to an adjoining 
building, the property of the church or 
a private home, and there hold the lesson 
discussion and such other exercises as 
belong to the hour. When there is a 
will there is a way to have at least fairly 



A Separate Classroom. 



comfortable quarters for an adult Bible 
class. 

While this matter of the class home is 
very important, classes should not be 
discouraged because they cannot have 
things quite as they would like. A lit- 
tle good sense and hard work can re- 
move difficulties and make improve- 
ments, and it is surprising what fine 
work can really be done in undesirable 
quarters. 

One thriving class has fitted up a very 
attractive classroom, having nothing to 
start with but a dingy, abandoned room. 
They give the following account of the 
way they went to work: 

" There was a little, odd room off the 
main Sunday-school room where our 
class decided to hold its meetings. It 
was a barren place with positively no 
furniture but an old, faded ingrain car- 
pet and a dozen worn chairs. But the 
members wanted to be by themselves 
and felt that they could improve the 
room till it would be an expression of 
the class spirit. 

"The walls were of rough, brown 
plaster, for that part of the church had 
never been finished. One of the class, 
who was an inside decorator by trade, 
offered to tint the walls ; the class to fur- 
nish materials. The color was a soft 
brown that covered the old plaster and 
lightened the room. There was one win- 
dow, and a shade was bought for this, 
and some inexpensive cream-colored 
lace curtains were hung over the shade. 
Then one of the members contributed 
a rug that brightened up the place with 
its warm reds, golden browns and olive 
greens ; another member stained the 
chairs, making them as good as new in 
appearance. 

" Then a small library table was 
added, and the room looked like a real 
home-room ; but there was something 
lacking yet, and that was pictures. The 
class decided that they would have noth- 



ing on the wall but that which would 
help to create an atmosphere of earnest 
endeavor and reverent worship. So the 
class was extravagant in only one thing, 
and that was pictures, which were all 
beautiful and suggestive ones, copies of 
great paintings ; but, as they bought only 
one picture at a time, this expense was 
not really a drain on the resources of 
the class. 

" Thus, at a very slight expense, we se- 
cured a class home, and in it carried out 
the ideas of what a class home should 
be, even though it was in a modest way." 

Another teacher tells of a practical 
writing-table for each member of the 
class, arranged to fit the back of ordi- 
nary straight-backed chairs : 

" This device is best adapted to the 
high-backed dining chairs often found 
in a classroom. A drop leaf is fastened 
to the back of each for the use of the 



fi 


V-^ 


^^ v> 


i 


^ 


Kis 


^ ^ 



next student behind. This leaf is hinged 
to a shelf-like hinge base cut straight 
on one side and bowed on the other to 
fit the curve of the back, whether slight 
or pronounced, Braces under this piece, 
.and a spring catch to hold up the leaf, 
complete the writing shelf. The first 
row of chairs, however arranged, should, 
be clamped to the floor to give a steady 
support to the users in the row behind, 
and to keep the seats in direct line. If 
these first seats must be occupied, the 
ones so seated have their choice between 
lapboards and small stands. There is 
room in the corners for stacking up un- 
used seats or boards." 



49 



HOW TO BUILD UP A BIBLE 

CLASS. 



BY J. RITCHIE PATTERSON". 

Teacher of the Bpworth Bible Class of the Western Avenue M. B. Sunday- 
school, Chicago. 



Note. — The Epworth Bible Class is credited 
with two hundred and fifty members in the 
Official Cook County Sunday-school Class 
Directory, the largest number recorded of any 
Mixed Bible Class in the county, or in the city 
of Chicago. It is one of the pioneer New 
Movement classes of the West, from which 
many since formed have gathered their inspira- 
tion. 

CO-OPKRATION. 

When I decided, in Sept., 1893, to try 
to make my class of six young ladies the 
nucleus of a large mixed Bible class, I 
knew it was useless to imitate those 
classes that simply met to hear a learned 
lecture or sermon. The ability was lack- 
ing, and I didn't want that kind of a 
class, anyway. A working organization, 
led by a teacher of just ordinary attain- 
ments, with the motto, " Keeping ever- 
lastingly at it brings success," and de- 
pending on the help of the members, I 
felt would succeed, because the class 
would be '' advertised by its loving 
friends." So, with no reputation as a 
Bible teacher, or special fitness there- 
for, I started in to learn as I went along. 
I saw that I must have the cooperation 
of a fair proportion of the members, who 
must have an active, not merely a pas- 
sive, interest in the class affairs. A 
teacher may attract visitors by a good 
presentation of the lesson, but if there 
is an absence of cordiality, friendliness 
and good-fellowship, the class as an or- 



ganization is a rope of sand and is 
doomed. 

OVERCOMING MISCONCEPTIONS. 

One of the first difficulties the adult 
Bible class teacher has to overcome in 
trying to induce persons to visit the class, 
is the idea commonly held regarding 
such classes. " I wish you would visit 
our Bible class," says the teacher, or it 
may be some one of the membership 
committee, having in mind a new recruit. 
But the look of gloom on the counte- 
nance of the person solicited says plainly, 
" I don't care to meet in a corner of the 
church with a class of a dozen people, 
made up of several old men and women 
whose delight is discussion on the un- 
solvable questions of the Bible, and a 
few young people who are awed into 
silence by their elders." It is necessary 
to make clear that this class is different 
from the old-fashioned kind, and to enu- 
merate the ways in which it is superior. 

EMBARRASSMENT OE STRANGERS. 

When the Epworth Bible Class was 
started there were looks askance as new 
members were added to the little circle; 
but for years there has been a remark- 
able camaraderie displayed toward the 
procession of members coming and go- 
ing. However, the restraint felt by the 
old member is slight compared with what 



50 



How to Build up a Bible Class. 



the new arrival feels. " I don't know 
anyone," or, " I don't know but two or 
three," are conditions of mind that have 
to be grappled with. A new member is 
more liable to stick when brought by 
some old member. Should the teacher 
discover the new candidate for member- 
ship, he would do well to place him un- 
der the personal care of some member. 
" And Andrew brought Peter to Jesus." 
It is the practice in the Epworth Bible 
Class, when committees are appointed, 
to include several of the newest mem- 
bers, so that by engaging in class work 
immediately they become better ac- 
quainted. In cities and towns where 
there are members who live in lodgings 
or boarding-houses, it is a great kind- 
ness to have such persons invited to the 
homes of older members. Only such 
sojourners in a large place know the 
hunger for social contact with families 
in permanent homes. If such members 
knew how gratefully such invitations 
were received, there would be more 
young men invited to Sunday dinner or 
asked to spend an evening around the 
piano and fireside. Such committee 
meetings, held in the homes of the old 
members, thus partake of the nature of 
a personal kindness, as well as cementing 
friendship and increasing class spirit. 

REJPRESEJNTATIVE OI^FICERS. 

A large Bible class is made up of 
many small groups. The units of these 
groups are welded together by ties of 
friendship, or relationship. Each of 
these groups should be represented on 
the board of officers, general committee, 
cabinet, or whatever the executive offi- 
cers are called. Then, when the officers 
inaugurate a new policy or plan, they 
will carry the bulk of the membership 
along with them. This will entail from 
ten to thirty officers, but even if the lat- 
ter number is chosen, it will be found to 



be not only representative but powerful 
in action. Nearly all large Bible classes 
that I have heard of have large corps of 
officers and permanent committees. 

Large powers should be given to the 
officers, as frequent meetings of the 
whole class are found inconvenient. 
Our churches have so many different 
societies — young people's, missionary, 
choir, etc. — that to avoid conflict it is 
best to leave the business largely to the 
officers. Some matters can come before 
the class after Sunday's lesson. 

VISITATION COMAIITTKK. 

Calling on the new members at their 
homes or boarding-houses is one of the 
most productive means of increasing in- 
terest in the class. A stranger in the 
class is not nearly so much impressed 
bv cordiality on the part of the members 
of the class as by a call at his residence, 
and a kindly talk in the tone of '' I want 
to become better acquainted with you." 
Most people new to a church or class are 
quite impressed with the trouble the 
visitor has taken to call on them, and in 
most instances will return the compli- 
ment by going where they are invited. 
No single feature of class work is so 
productive of good returns as visitation. 
The trouble is to get the work done. 
Few and far between are the officers or 
members who will call systematically on 
strangers or lukewarm members. Press 
of business, a shrinking from meeting 
entire strangers, and the fact that no 
glory comes from such obscure work, 
are reasons enough for nine out of ten 
of them to say, " I pray you, have me 
excused." It is to be feared that over 
the graves of thousands of deceased Bible 
classes might truthfully be inscribed the 
legend, '' Died from lack of visitation." 

RECE:PTI0N COMMITTEE. 

The reception committee, consisting of 
one or more of the most sociable and 



61 



How to Build up a Bible Class. 



cheery members, should greet everyone 
who comes into the class, and give a 
parting handshake after adjournment. 
Too much care cannot be taken to secure 
for this important work a committee who 
know all, or nearly all, the members, and 
whose efforts will be directed toward 
thawing out all frigid wall-flowers and 
back-seaters'. The names of all the mem- 
bers should be on the lips of this com- 
mittee, whose duty it will be to make 
the new friends acquainted with con- 
genial people. " Remember you were 
' new ' once yourself," should be kept in 
mind by the old members as well as this 
committee. 

D^SIRABIvE) PLANS. 

Perhaps not all, but certainly many of 
the following methods which have 
worked well, will be successful in every 
class. A class pin or button is worn in 
many classes. These buttons are often 
seen on the street, and mark the wearer 
at least as one with the Bible class move- 
ment. 

A class banner, hung in the classroom, 
is a strong tie to bind the members to- 
gether. A class banner usually has the 
name of the class, the date of organiza- 
tion, and the class motto. It may be 
framed or otherwise permanently placed 
on the wall of the classroom, in full view 
of the members, or it may be mounted 
on a pole and can be carried to picnics 
or to rallies at other churches. The 
material and the lettering of the banner 
may be of the class colors. 

Not every class would regard a class 
yell either as necessary or as advisable, 
but there are occasions when youthful 
spirits seek an outlet in vocal explosions 
patterned after the college yell. Going 
to, or returning from, the class or Sab- 
bath-school picnic, or in the days of our 
class bicycle club runs, this yell aroused 
spirit : 

"Rah! rah^ rah! Who are we? 
We are the members of the E. B. C. !" 



A class song may be written by one 
of the poets of the class ; the music used, 
however, had best be some well-known, 
stirring tune. The class song can be 
sung at social gatherings, or on special 
occasions on Sunda}^ the words being 
printed on the program or on special 
slips, distributed, and then collected after 
the immediate occasion for their use has 
passed. 

Class badges will be found to increase 
class spirit at times, and may be provided 
either for the officers alone, and for spe- 
cial ccmmittees, or for the whole mem- 
bership. If these are of a fine quality 
of silk or satin, a cheaper kind may be 
used for the Sunday-school or class pic- 
nic. The class colors should always be 
chosen for these emblems, and will help 
to aroiise proper class spirit. 

Many adult classes have orchestras 
made up of mandolins, guitars, violins 
and other instruments that appeal to the 
players of those instruments, and which 
add greatly to the interest and joy of 
special occasions. Such groups have 
been found to attract young people who 
would not otherwise have joined the 
class. 

A class quartette or chorus, male or 
mixed will afford a common meeting- 
point for lovers of vocal music, and, aside 
from the tie binding them together, will 
add to the variety of many a program. 

Class prayer-meetings. To increase 
the best kind of class spirit, I know of 
nothing to compare with the monthly 
class prayer-meeting. Differences be- 
tween members nearly always disappear 
as wc kneel in prayer or join in " Nearer 
my God, to Thee." People love the or- 
ganization in which they have been spir- 
itually uplifted, and revere the one who 
has spoken God's truth to their better- 
ment Our class prayer-meetings are 
held on the second Sunday in the month, 
immediately following the lesson, which 
has been cut down to twenty or twenty- 



52 



How to Build up a Bible Class. 



five minutes. The best results have come 
from the announcement that "" while we 
stand and sing those who for any rea- 
son do not care to remain to the prayer- 
meeting may then retire." From one- 
half to two-thirds stay and spend about 
an hour in prayer, singing and testi- 
mony. Nearly every meeting shows 
definite results in conversions. 

Class Socials. The success of our 
class socials does not lie in the number 
present, always from. 200 to 400, but 
rather in the following ideas carefully 
worked out. (1) The preliminary social 
hour, spent with everyone on the fioor 
seekiiip- to unravel some puzzle or guess 
the answers to some list of questions. 
(2) The program always made well 
worth listening to and of an artistic 
value that would merit an admission fee, 
which, however, is never charged. (3) 
The program carried out by the members 
themselves, which, including new as well 
as old members, is an aid to making the 
new friends well acquainted. The re- 
hearsals have brought old and new mem- 
bers together repeatedly, and thus ful- 
filled one of the purposes of class socials. 
(4) The programs are such as call for 
the employment of large numbers of the 
members, usually from twenty to forty. 
Occasionally the class is divided up into 
four or five sections, holding separate 
social gatherings at as many homes of 
the members on the same evening. An- 
other plan which works well is a recep- 
tion given by the twenty-five officers to 
new members exclusively, in some spa- 
cious residence. Friendships are formed 
more quickly at these home affairs than 
at the larger gatherings in the church. 



We value an organization for what 
we put into it and what we get out of it. 
The teacher and officers of the Epworth 
Bible class take a personal interest in 
each member — in his joys and sorrows, 
in all the crises of life, loneliness, loss of 
employment, spiritual drifting, sickness, 
death, or other troubles. A large part 
of the work of the class is in caring for 
young men and women who have 
*' broken the home ties " and are alone 
in the great city. They are visited, 
boarding or lodging houses found for 
them, always in ^Christian homes. When 
ill, the members are visited and remem- 
bered with bouquets of flowers and 
fruit, and with tender messages of sym- 
pathy. About twenty have died in the 
dozen years of the life of the class, some 
of whom, being away from home, have 
been cared for at the end of the journey 
of life, the aid of the clergy obtained, 
pallbearers and singers secured, flowers 
provided at class expense, and the re- 
mains followed to the cemetery. When 
the wedding bells ring, as they do fre- 
quently in the Epworth Bible class, the 
happy occasion is noted officially, some- 
times by a resolution of congratulation, 
sometimes by a gift, or, if by reason of 
especial class prominence and the treas- 
ury will permit, by a class reception to 
the happy couple. 

The number of weddings between 
class members has always been consid- 
erable, and no apology^ is ever made 
therefor, because of the settled convic- 
tion that a man or woman can choose a 
partner for life in no better place than a 
Bible class. 



53 



Activities of the Alling 

Class. 



The Ailing Class, which is connected 
with the Central Presbyterian Church 
of Rochester, N. Y., was inspired by the 
example of another class of young men 
in the same church known as " Class 
42/' and also by that of a class in Bath, 
New York, conducted by the late H. S. 
Hull, both of which classes had reached 
an attendance of seventy-five to one hun- 
dred before the Ailing Class had out- 
grown the size of the ordinary Sabbath- 
school class. As they were helped by 
the example of others, so the growth 
and success of the Ailing Class has in 
turn inspired still others to make the 
same attempt. 

It is not claimed that the methods of 
this class are all original. They have 
invented some, and borrowed others, and 
stand ready to appropriate a good thing 
wherever they find it. Doubtless some of 
the things that have been successful with 
them would not prove equally satis- 
factory in all classes, but somewhat simi- 
lar methods will bring about somewhat 
similar results. 

The Ailing Class dates back to 1884, 
when it was formed as an average Sab- 
bath-school class of eight boys. As the 
boys grew the class grew also, but it did 
not grow without work. A Sabbath- 
school class left to itself will not grow, 
any more than a business will under 
similar conditions. It is not a vegetable, 
to be committed to the orderly processes 
of nature. Thought, time, and effort 
were put into it along a clearly defined 
line of principle, which was that this was 
to be a class for young men. So, its 
membership was limited to men only, 



and no one was admitted under the age 
of seventeen. 

Having decided that it was to be a 
class for young men, the first proposition 
accepted was that it could not be con- 
ducted as if it were designed for children, 
for women, or for old men. It must seek 
to attract young men, for in general they 
will not come merely because it is a good 
place. The class must be made fully as 
attractive as other attractive things, and 
right there lies the difference between 
the methods hereafter described, and the 
ordinary Sunday-school methods. 

Now everyone knows that young men 
like activity, that they chafe and lose 
interest if they cannot work, but that if 
properly guided they work with tremen- 
dous energy and effectiveness. For this 
reason it was determined if possible to 
set the young men at work for the class, 
and to that end to build up a strong class 
spirit, a feeling of pride in the growth 
of the organization, and a feeling of 
proprietorship and responsibility for its 
management and welfare. The class did 
not belong to the teacher, but was a joint 
stock company, whose success meant 
credit to all, and whose failure would 
mean an equal discredit. 

As a first step to this end the class was 
organized with its own elected officers, 
the teacher being careful not to permit 
himself to be named as president. A 
very simple class organization was all 
that was needed at first, and new officers 
were added only as their need became 
apparent. We will speak of their work 
later on. 

Thus officered, class activities were en- 



54 



Activities of the Ailing Class. 



couraged that appealed to young men 
along the lines in which their enthusiasm 
could be legitimately encouraged and ex- 
pended. Their growing class spirit sug- 
gested some of the things first intro- 
duced. Class badges were provided, and 
a class yell invented. Class rallies were 
held in which great interest was shown 
even if for nothing more than beating 
their own record. These rally days were 
always announced at least a month in 
advance, that all necessary preparations 
might be made. All old members were 
looked up, and everybody was urged to 
bring a friend or two just for one day, 
even if they never came again. Enthusi- 
asm always developed, and a great jump 
in the class attendance was sure to re- 
sult. Special exercises were always had 
for rally days, an orchestra, vocal solos, 
a ten-minute social to greet strangers, 
and an especial effort to have a topic for 
the lesson that would grip the new men, 
and make them see the difference be- 
tween the new- and the old-fashioned 
adult Bible class. The class was always 
sure to hold permanently some of those 
who attended the rally as visitors, and 
thus to lift the average attendance. The 
class held socials and a class field-day ; 
organized a baseball club, a bicycle club, 
a debating society, and held an annual 
class banquet, with promin nt citizens as 
after-dinner speakers, and with an un- 
limited amount of good fellowship and 

animal spirits. 

-K -K -K 

CLASS BANQUETS. 

From the first it was thought best to 
liave class banquets not oftener than once 
a year, and to have these first-class in all 
respects, rather than to have more fre- 
quent dinners of the " cheap and hun- 
gry " variety. We have therefore spared 
no expense or effort to make these at- 
tractive, and have offered a first-class 
.course dinner served bv a caterer. We 



&5 



have sometimes sat down to our banquet 
four hundred strong, and the elaborate 
decorations of flags, electric lights, flow- 
ers, and candelabra, the good orchestra, 
and the rollicking class songs set to the 
popular music of the day — all these have 
combined to make a great impression 
upon our members, and to furnish the 
surroundings for a most joyous evening. 
Usually each member has paid at least 
part of the expense of his own dinner, 
while the class has assumed the payment 
of the balance, but we have endeavored 
to see that any members who could not 
afford to pay for tickets were provided 
with them at class expense, so that all 
might be present if possible. Scores and 
hundreds of men have been brought into 
membership through the influence of 
these occasions. 

The various attractions mentioned 
above did not all come at once, but were 
introduced as needed. Young men are 
bound to form clubs for such purposes, 
and to put time and enthusiasm into 
them. Why not take advantage of this, 
and group their legitimate activities 
around a Sunday-school class, and thus 
appropriate some of the latent energy 
waiting to be drawn upon ! 

In a short time the class outgrew its 
place in the main Sunday-school room 
where it had met with the rest of the 
school, and was provided with a room 
by itself, where the entire session is 
now held, including opening exercises. 
While there is undoubtedly something 
lost both by the class and the rest of the 
school because of the class not being 
present at the general opening exercises, 
the class has gained much more than it 
has lost by the separation. An orchestra 
to lead the music, and to play a selection 
at the beginning of the hour, a five-min- 
ute intermission just before the lesson 
for a hand-shake with strangers, a round 
of applause, or a hearty laugh were all 
made possible by the possession of a 



Activities of the Ailing Class.. 



separate room. Some of the class meth- 
ods would not be practicable if they did 
not have their own room, but this en- 
ables them to adapt their exercises to 
the special tastes of young men, whereas 
if all meet together the needs of the chil- 
dren of the school must be taken into 
account at the expense of the interest of 

the men. 

M M M 

OFFICERS. 

Some of the class aims and methods 
can be best described by telling of the 
class organization, and of the duties of 
the officers. The latter are elected by the 
class annually in December and take 
office January 1 ; the last Sunday of the 
year being set aside as Inauguration 
Sunday, when special exercises are held 
marking the change of administration. 
The officers at present are a president, 
vice-president, treasurer, corresponding 
secretary, recording secretary, historian, 
four librarians, and the chairman of the 
Standing Class Committees, viz. : Attend- 
ance, Social, Music, and Employment. 
The Executive Committee, which has the 
actual management of the class, consists 
of the officers above mentioned, the 
teacher, ex-oMcio, and three members-at- 
large who are elected by the class, as 
are all the other officers, except the 
chairmen of the committees, who are ap- 
pointed by the president, while the li- 
brarian appoints his assistants. 

The president is such in fact as well 
as in name. He presides when business 
is before the class ; conducts the opening 
exercises on Sunday, gives all notices 
and announcements, and in the absence 
of the teacher is responsible for a substi- 
tute. It is his duty to suggest new plans, 
to see that the class officers and commit- 
tees do their work, and to be the actual 
business head of the class. 

The vice-president is chairman of the 
Executive Committee, ex-oMcio, besides 



performing the duties which fall to him 
in case of the absence of the president. 

The treasurer of course takes care of 
the class funds. Although the class is 
a component part of the Sabbath-school, 
and as such would ordinarily be expected 
to turn its collections into the common 
treasury, it is found that young men give 
better if they feel that they have the 
keeping and spending of their own class 
money. For many years therefore the 
class have retained their collections and 
apportioned them as they saw fit. This 
money is divided into three parts called 
the Sunday-school, benevolent and ex- 
pense funds. The Sunday-school fund 
is the class contribution to the general 
treasury of the school. This the class 
feel obligated to make, for the men of 
the school are more able to give than 
any others, and the school treasury would 
be sadly depleted if it were to receive the 
gifts of the children only. The benevo- 
lent fund enables the class to have a 
hand in helping Y. M. C. A. work or 
whatever form of effort for betterment 
meets the approval of the class. The 
expense fund is a large one, for it takes, 
a good deal of money to keep the class 
moving. Printing notices, providing 
music for opening exercises, giving an 
occasional social with a program of en- 
tertainment — these all absorb money, but. 
they are the machinery by which class 
enterprise and enthusiasm are main- 
tained. Special funds are also created 
for special objects like the refurnishing 
of .the classroom, the purchase of a new 
piano, or the annual class banquet. 

Since the organization of the class its. 
treasurers have handled $15,206.00. Part; 
of this has been raised by lectures, con- 
certs and entertainments given by the 
class or under its auspices ; part has been 
pledged for special purposes in response 
to appeals for the same, but the greater 
part has come from the regular Sabbath 
offerings of the members. The class 



56 



Activities of the Ailing Class. 



weekly collections range from fifteen dol- 
lars to twenty dollars, a considerable 
number of the members being pledged 
to give a definite sum each week in 
envelopes furnished for the purpose. 
This method of giving is encouraged 
not so much for the purpose of get- 
ting more money out of the men, as 
for the purpose of educating them in the 
habit of giving. The number of mem- 
bers who give a fixed percentage of their 
income is increasing. 

The recording secretary is one of the 
most important officers of the class. It 
is of course his duty to keep a record of 
the attendance. It would be manifestly 
impossible to call a roll with so large a 
class, so, as each man enters the room, 
he is given an attendance card, the now 
popular form being used. 

The line for visitors is especially valu- 
able, for it enables the committees to 
learn the name and address of each casual 
visitor who enters the class doors, and to 
record it upon the books. If he states 
that he is a member of some other class 
or school, no attempt is made to follow 
him up and induce him to come again ; 
but if he lives in the city and does not 
indicate that he belongs or attends else- 
where, the visitation committee is noti- 
fied. The following blank, signed in pen 
by the president and teacher, is also sent 
to his address as promptly as possible : 



Dear Sir: We are glad to find your at- 
tendance card among those of the Ailing Class 
last week, and, on behalf of the class, we cor- 
dially invite you to come again, get ac- 
quainted, and join us if you feel so inclined. 
It is the aim of the class, in its different 
departments of work, to interest and help 
men as much as possible, and if we can 
be of any service to you, or if you feel 
willing to give us the help of your presence 
and effort, we shall be most glad to have 
you become one of our members, provided you 
wish to do so, and are not connected with 
any other class. 

Yours very sincerely. 



President. 
. . Teacher. 



Many a visitor thus cordially wel- 
comed and followed up comes again, 
and signs a membership card. On the 
Sabbath following this application for 
membership the new member is formally 
welcomed by reading his name aloud, 
and asking him to stand for a moment 
that all may recognize him. 

The corresponding secretary addresses 
the various notices that are mailed to 
the class ; a task by no means light, with 
so large a membership, but the class be- 
lieve thoroughly in the value of printer's ' 
ink, and mail notices of one kind or an- 
other at least once a month, and oftener 
when necessary. 

-K -K -K 

ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE. 

Cards of welcome and invitation to 
visitors are mailed by the chairman of 
the Attendance Committee, whose duty 
it is to look over the record for this pur- 
pose, and who is also expected to look 
after absentees. If a member has been 
absent a number of Sundays, and the 
chairman of this committee does not 
know why, he sends a line to the absentee 
telling him he has been missed, or asks 
a member of his committee to look up 
the missing man. In many cases the 
man's attendance is at once resumed, or 
it is found that he is sick or has left the 
city. 

This looking up of absentees is one of 
the hardest duties devolving upon any 
of the officers, for it takes great per- 
sistence as well as tact and good judg- 
ment to do the work thoroughly. It pays 
well when done well. 

In almost every city, and in very many 
towns, there are certain schools or gath- 
ering places for young men which should 
be thoroughly canvassed and from which 
large numbers of men may be drawn. 
The rooms of a Y. M. C. A., a college, 
an academy or a business college furnish 
admirable recruiting stations, and should 



57 



Activities of the Ailing Class. 



not be overlooked in the search for men 
who ought to attend somezvhere, and who 
will attend if only invited. To such the 
class sometimes send a card of special 
invitation, which rarely fails to bring out 
some new material for membership. 

¥ M M 

SOCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT 
COMMITTEE. 

The duties of the chairman of the So- 
cial and Employment Committee need no 
explanation, although they both contrib- 
ute greatly to the efficient and satis- 
factory conduct of the class. Five min- 
utes is usually taken just before the les- 
son for the purpose of a greeting to 
strangers, and a hand-shaking all around, 
for it is not intended to let anyone go 
away from the class without a personal 
welcome. We frequently hear the state- 
ment from many of those who have 
joined the class that they did so chiefly 
because, when they came to visit it as 
strangers, they were made so thoroughly 
at home that they decided at once to 
cast in their lot with the class. 

The various organizations which have 
been formed in the class for the purpose 
of carrying on the footbajl, baseball and 
other athletic interests of the members, 
have each had their own committees of 
management, but have been conducted 
subject to the oversight of the Executive 
Committee. These organizations have 
interested and furnished occupation for 
many men whom we could not have 
reached in any other way, but who, hav- 
ing become enthusiastic over the interests 
of the class in their particular line, have 
in the end become regular attendants. 

The affiliation between a Bible class 
and these different forms of activity is 
so unusual that it will be well to state 
the reasons given by the class manager 
for using these and other means, that 
are in themselves right and proper, to 
help develop enthusiasm and class spirit. 



A country is richer because of the 
patriotism of its sons. If they are thor- 
oughly and heartily loyal it need fear no 
foe without or within. A city is more 
prosperous and progressive if its citi- 
zens are public-spirited enough to plan 
and labor for the beauty and growth of 
their town. A college has a vastly 
greater chance for growth and develop- 
ment if its students and alumni are en- 
thusiastic and devoted. To develop these 
desired qualities of patriotism and devoted 
service the authorities of state, city, or 
college institute and support public holi- 
days, celebrations, fairs, games, athletics. 
These are not a part of the machinery 
of government, nor of the plan of educa- 
tion, but they lead so directly to the de- 
velopment of the desired qualities that 
they are everywhere maintained in spite 
of their obvious dangers. 

Now why not avail ourselves of the 
same elements in the Sabbath-school 
class? Enthusiasm over its possibilities 
and accomplishments will develop loyalty 
to its interests and devotion to its work. 
It is for the development of this enthusi- 
asm that we have' persistently worked, 
and this is why we have pressed into 
class service such forms of manly ac- 
tivity as seemed desirable to member- 
ship. 

All this organization and these ef- 
forts to attract young men are of course 
but means to an end, and are not the end 
itself. We want young men in the class 
in order that they may become Chris- 
tians, and we do not mean to let any- 
thing stand in the way of accomplishing 
this end. As far as possible the class 
officers endeavor to keep in touch with 
the members of the class, and to know 
where they stand in the matter of per- 
sonal religion ; but it would be impos- 
sible to accomplish this with any meas- 
ure of completeness were it not for the 
aid received from the Christian men in 
the class, who take pains to let them know 



58 



Committee Work of 41 st St. Presbyterian Class. 



of any men who they understand are 
interested in religious matters, and who 
are wilHng to talk about these personally 
with the teacher. As a result there are 
comparatively few communion seasons 
of the Central Church at which there are 
not some of our members among those 
who are received into church member- 
ship. We believe it can be successfully 
maintained that the methods of the class 



have not interfered with its religious 
work; nor have the social enjoyment and 
other attractive features been considered 
the chief object of our efforts. Many 
a little class prayer-meeting has been 
held by the earnest spirits in the class, 
and an influence has gone out from these 
groups of earnest men which has been 
widely felt for good among the other 
members. 



Committee "Work 

Of the Young Men's Class of the 41st Street Presbyterian Sunday-school, 

Chicago. 



The Young Men's Bible Class of the 
41st Street Presbyterian Sunday-school, 
Chicago, has an enrollment of over 400 
members. It has — 

A library open all the week. 

A Saturday evening prayer-meeting. 

A Sunday morning class-meeting. 

Publishes a class paper. 

Holds an executive committee meet- 
ing every Tuesday evening. 

Maintains a section of seats in the 
church to which strangers are invited. 

Has a free employment bureau. 

Has a boarding-house information 
bureau. 

Has a pastor's aid committee, which 
is also a committee to aid and encourage 
other organized classes. 

It also has the following standing com- 
mittees : 

Spiritual work. 

Class members. 

Lookout. 

Vestibule. 

Social. 

Finance. 

Music. 

Below we give particulars regarding 



the work of some of these committees, 
as given in the Class Manual. 

5f 3f )f 

REGULATIONS FOR PASTOR'S AID 
COMMITTEE. 

1. Field of Duty: To be always and 
heartily at the command of the pastor; 
to see that everything desired by him of 
the committee or class is promptly and 
efficiently done. For this purpose all 
the class are at the service of the com- 
mittee, who are expected to call freely 
upon outside members. 

2. Report personally at least once each 
week to the pastor for instructions, sug- 
gestions and criticisms. 

3. Promptly make known to the class 
the wishes of the pastor regarding it. 

4. Be a connecting link between the 
class and all other classes and organiza- 
tions of the church. For this purpose 
call upon them, keep in sympathetic 
touch with, and tell all other class mem- 
bers of them and their work, and secure 
and constantly maintain cordial good- 
will and Christian fellowship between 
them all and this class. 



59 



Committee Work of 41st St. Presbyterian Class. 



REGULATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL WORK 
COMMITTEE. 

1. Field of Work: The whole class in 
its spiritual life. 

2. Special Charge and Work: (1) 
Those who are not Christians — to win 
them to Christ; (2) New Christians who 
have recently come into the church and 
class — spiritual nurture, by personal at- 
tention and genuine interest and affection 
to develop the Christ life in each one and 
keep it warm, active and growing; (3) 
The Older Christians — to promote and 
increase Christian fellowship and spirit- 
ual life and work among them. 

3. Lovingly and perseveringly encour- 
age prayer and Bible study among all 
the class, beginning with yourself. 

4. The Spiritual Work Committee, in 
connection with the teacher, shall be spe- 
cially responsible for the ten o'clock 
Sunday morning prayer-meeting, the 
Saturday night prayer-meeting, the 
prayer-meeting at opening of the Sunday 
noon session, and all other devotional 
meetings and exercises of the class. 

5. Make Assignments : Assign from 
the committee, the class, or those entirely 
outside, one or two persons to each 
one not a Christian, and also to each 
young Christian, to be his friend in the 
above respects. 

6. Keep in close touch and communi- 
cation with the pastor and teacher. 

7. Be enthusiastic in the work ; it is 
God's, not yours. Keep self out of sight, 
and Christ ever in the front. 

3f 3f 5f 

REGULATIONS FOR THE CLASS 
MEMBERS COMMITTEE. 

1. Special Post of Duty, every class 
session ; Special Charge, every class 
member ; Special Duty, become ac- 
quainted with and make everybody else 
acquainted with the others. 

2. Meet at regular times and com- 
pare notes with each other. 



60 



3. Keep a roll of irregulars, and take 
up the work of assigning a member of 
committee or class or someone outside 
the class, if more suitable, to each one 
of them, to become his friend and win 
him back into the active life of the class 
and church. 

4., Visit or write absent members. 

5. Seek to win others to Christ, and 
strengthen the spiritual life and fellow- 
ship of the class. This can be done by 
(1) living a happy, healthy, manly, 
modest. Christian life, and (2) by speak- 
ing a loving word when the Spirit moves 
you, 

6. Grasp the idea of the rules, carry 
out their spirit, and go beyond them, but 
do not be bound down by them. 

M M M 

SUGGESTIONS FOR CARRYING OUT 
THE FOREGOING. 

1. Let the committee meet each Sun- 
day morning for a few minutes and com- 
pare notes. Keep a memorandum book. 

2. Make everyone acquainted. It 
shall be the duty of the Class Members 
Committee to see that all of the mem- 
bers of the class are acquainted with 
each other, and that those who are little 
noticed be given attention ; and by proper 
and constant attention, to promote a 
spirit of cordial friendship and brotherly 
feeling on the part of all the members 
for each other; and in the same spirit, 
to do what they can to allay differences, 
should any occur ; also to keep informed, 
and keep the teacher informed, from 
time to time, of the condition of any 
of the class sick or in trouble, and 
help them. The chairman may also as- 
sign any member of the class, not on the 
committee, to special duty. 

3. Irregularly attending and absent 
members, and those on the reserve roll, 
shall be especially the care of this com- 
mittee, who shall keep in especial touch 
and^ friendly relations with them, and 
give their best thought and effort toward 



Committee Work of 4 st St. Presbyterian Class. 



bringing back to regular attendance 
those who are not away for good rea- 
sons. Consult together, and with teach- 
ers and officers, for this purpose, and 
call in the services of members of the 
class outside of this committee and of 
other persons if more suitable, whenever 
deemed desirable. 

4. Correspondence : The chairman 
shall keep closely informed of the attend- 
ance from Sunday to Sunday, as kept by 
the class secretary, and shall each week 
have a letter written, or personal visit 
made by himself or some member of the 
committee, to each one of the class on 
the active roll absent the preceding Sun- 
day, unless the reason for absence is 
known, and requires no further atten- 
tion. 

The committee shall also correspond, 
on behalf of the class, with absent mem- 
bers, and shall report to the teacher and 
to the class items of interest or concern 
about class members detained away or 

absent. 

-K -K -K 

REGULATIONS FOR THE LOOKOUT 
COMMITTEE. 

1. Special Charge: All young men in 
congregation or neighborhood not mem- 
bers of any Sunday-school or Bible class. 
Special Duty : To become acquainted 
with them, and bring them in to the hear- 
ing of the gospel in some church or Bible 
class — our own, if they do not prefer an- 
other. 

2. Meet at regular times and compare 
notes. 

3. Outside Work: Be on the lookout 
for young men in the neighborhood who 
are non-churchgoers, and report to 
chairman. 

4. Inside Work: Divide the church 
into sections, and appoint to each section 
one or two foremen, to become ac- 
quainted with and reach the young men 
in the respective sections. 

5. Keep memorandum books, and 



make full memoranda from time to 
time, giving a page to each man. 

6. Assign members of committee or 
class to each new man, to win him to 
this or some other class or church, and 
be his friend. 

7. Keep the teacher informed. 

3f 3f Jf 

SUGGESTIONS FOR CARRYING OUT 
THE FOREGOING. 

1. Let the committee meet each Sun- 
day morning for a few minutes, and 
compare notes. 

2. Outside Work : It shall be the duty 
of each member of the committee and of 
the class, as occasion offers, to inquire 
and learn of young men in the neighbor- 
hood who attend no church, and notify 
the chairman of the Lookout Commit- 
tee of the same, and the latter shall keep 
in a book a record of their names and 
addresses and what has been learned 
about them. 

3. Inside Work: The chairman and 
vice-chairman shall divide the church 
auditorium into sections, and assign two 
foremen to each section, whose duty it 
shall be to : ( 1 ) Familiarize themselves 
with all the young men who come into 
their section, morning or evening, regu- 
larly or irregularly. (2) Become ac- 
quainted with each one not in any other 
church, Bible or Sunday-school class ; 
learn (so far as may be without in- 
quisitiveness or impropriety) his address 
and facts about himself, his family and 

. surroundings, especially the names of 
some of his friends in the church, if 
any, and (either from himself or others) 
who in the class or outside of it would 
most likely be congenial to him; intro- 
duce him to the teacher and others, and 
invite him to church and class. Com- 
pare notes with members of Vestibule 
Committee. (3) Record on slip of paper 
each Sunday the names, addresses, and 
all that has been learned about each 

61 



Unions of Organized Classes. 



young man interviewed, and any new 
information about those before reported, 
and at the close of service hand same to 
chairman of committee, after entering 
it in their own memorandum books. If 
several young men to be greeted are in 
the section, make free use of the little 
cards and also of other persons, both in 
and outside of the class. 

4. Each committee member to have a 
memorandum book, in which he shall 
set down the name of each person com- 
ing under his attention, as above, and all 
the facts learned about him. Also to 
carry in his pocket a pencil and one of 
the little blocks of pencil slips, and use 
them. 

5. For each young man reported, the 
chairman and vice-chairman, in consulta- 
tion with the teacher and president, 
shall, unless it is, for good reason, deemed 
inadvisable, appoint one or two persons, 
either of the committee or outside of it 
in the class or congregation, to become 
his friend, call upon him, introduce him, 
and by all pleasant and proper means 
make the church and class homelike and 
agreeable to him, but all for his own sake 
and benefit, rather than for that of the 
class. If he prefers to go into some other 



class or church, help him to do so. 

6. The chairman or vice-chairman will 
give teacher list of section foremen, and 
where located, and notices of all changes 
in same, from time to time ; and keep in 
close touch and consultation with the 
teacher in the committee work. 

-K -K -K 

REGULATIONS OF THE " VESTI- . 
BULE " COMMITTEE. 

'' Post of Duty. — In the church vesti- 
bule before and after service. Special 
Chcrge. — All )'^oung men entering the 
church. Greet all young men, become 
acquainted with them, learn what you 
can about them without inquisitiveness, 
and take their names and addresses on 
a slip of paper, and report same to chair- 
man. Keep notebook, and full memo- 
randum under each name. Compare 
notes with each other. Make newcomers 
acquainted, and follow up the work with 
each one from Sunday to Sunday. Help 
all strangers — old and young — as oppor- 
tunity offers to get acquainted with 
everybody. Be Christian gentlemen. 
The chairman will report at the close of 
each service to the chairman or vice- 
chairman of the lookout committee." 



Federations, or Unioits of 
Organized Classes. 



There are a number of federations or 
unions of organized classes having a 
common class name and constitution. 
These unions afford opportunity for con- 
ventions and social life. They have usu- 
ally been the result of the successful 



and to also secure the benefits of affilia- 
tion. 

Among the most prominent of these 
unions are the Baraca Classes for 
young men, the Philathea and Delta 
Alpha Classes for young women, the 



methods of one class being adopted by Friendly Classes and Yokebearers 
other classes wishing to do similar work Classes for both men and women. 

62 



Unions of Organized Classes. 



Of the 293 successful classes reported 
to us, fifteen per cent, were affiliated with 
some one of these organizations, and the 
largest part of this per cent, associated 
with the Baraca Union. 

M M M 

BARACA CLASSES. 

The Baraca Union is the largest affili- 
ated Bible Class Movement of the pres- 
ent day. It probably has had more to do 
with the growth and spread of organized 
classes and with encouraging advanced 
methods of work than all other agencies. 
Marshall A. Hudson, the founder of this 
union, and also of the Philathea, is de- 
serving of the highest praise. 

It was in 1890 that Mr. Hudson, then 
a business man of Syracuse, organized 
the first Baraca class, consisting of 
eighteen young men. 

The name Baraca was chosen from 
2 Chron. 20 : 26, and means " Blessed " 
or " Happy." A motto was hung upon 
the wall which read, " We aim to ' bless,' 
or * make happy ' every man who comes 
to our circle." To this was added an- 
other motto : " Blessed to be a blessing." 

The platform adopted by the class 
was : " Young men at work for young 
men, all standing by the Bible and the 
Bible school," This platform has since 
been adopted by the National Baraca 
Union. 

The first Baraca class adopted class 
colors, a class pin, class yell, grip, etc. 
To the Sunday meeting of the class were 
added two ideas — social life and busi- 
ness methods. To carry these two ad- 
juncts to success, a room was given the 
Baraca class which was kept open every 
night in the week but one, which was 
church prayer-meeting night. On that 
evening the Baracas went to the " Baraca 
Corner " assigned them in the church 
prayer room. 

With their orchestra, male quartette 
and numerous committees they came in 



touch with many men who were indiffer- 
ent to Christ and his church, and they 
were soon won to both. In a little time 
the class had over 200 members. 

To-day Baraca classes may be found 
in churches of nearly every denomination 
in the United States and Canada, and 
more than 1,000 classes are now enrolled 
in a National Union. 

Particulars of how to organize a 
Baraca Class may be had free of charge 
by addressing the Baraca Supply Com- 
pany, 200 Comstock Ave., Syracuse, 
N. Y. 

M M M 

PHILATHEA CLASSES. 

In 1898 some of the young ladies of 
Syracuse, realizing the need of better 
Sunday-school classes for women, organ- 
ized a " Philathea " Bible class. Phila- 
thea is a Greek word, which means 
" lovers of God," or " lovers of truth." 
The Philatheas adopted the same ideas 
as the Baracas, and their plans provided 
for the same officers and committees. 
The class platform is " Young women 
at work for young women, all standing 
by the Bible and the Bible school." 

The Philathea class idea, like the 
Baraca, soon grew away from its own 
city and denomination, and to-day there 
are over 350 Philathea classes in the 
United States and Canada. A National 
Union with national officers has been 
formed, conventions being held in con- 
nection with the Baracas. These classes, 
like the Baracas, are increasing rapidly. 
Their literature can be obtained from the 
same company as the Baracas. 

M M M 

YOKEBEARERS CLASSES. 

The need of a Mixed Bible Class of 
men and women has been felt in many 
schools, and in New York State this 
need has been met by organizing classes 
calling themselves " Yokebearers." Their 



63 



Unions ot Organized Classes. 



constitution and plans of work are simi- 
lar to the Baraca and Philathea. They 
have a pin, shaped like a yoke and bear- 
ing- the letters Y. B. B. C. 

Particulars about the work of the 
Yokebearers may be secured from the 
Baraca Supply Company. 

-K -K -K 

DELTA ALPHA CLASSES. 

There are now about 1,400 Delta 
Alpha classes claiming a membership of 
41,000. 

The Delta Alpha is a young ladies' 
organized class. Its plans are unique, 
but they have been carefully tested and 
found worthy of wide extension. We 
understand something of the loyalty and 
enthusiasm awakened in college girls by 
membership in college societies. The 
same enthusiasm and loyalty are awak- 
ened in young ladies' classes through the 
introduction of Delta Alpha plans. 

The central thought of the Delta Alpha 
class is the cultivation and development 
of the spirit of friendship. With this in 
mind the members of the class stand 
committed to the holiest Christian ideal, 
and their efforts lie in the direction of 
developing this ideal in ways that will 
draw others to them. 

The motto chosen is one that embodies 
the thought of " service " on friendship's 
plane. An Oriental water jar, such as is 
used for bringing water from the com- 
mon well — a fitting reminder of the lov- 
ing service of women in Bible lands — 
is the emblem of the class. 

The class name chosen is on a plan 
common among college societies. It is 



a text of Scripture consisting of four 
words which are engraved on the class 
pin in Greek letters. 

For particulars address Delta Alpha 
Headquarters, care of David C. Cook 
Publishing Co., Elgin, Illinois. 

5f 5f ^ . 
THE ''FRIENDLY" CLASSES. 

The story of six homesick strangers 
in a corner of the Sunday-school 
room of the Congregational Sunday- 
school, of Allston, Mass., and how they 
grew into a Friendly Class of 120 mem- 
bers, is interesting and suggestive. Be- 
cause of developing the spirit of friend- 
ship this little class outgrew its corner, 
moved into the church auditorium, and 
from there into a room in the balcony. 
Here they organized, with a constitution, 
officers and committees. 

The special work of this class is to ex- 
tend the " glad hand " to newcomers in 
the church and community. It has a 
Lookout Committee that districts the 
community and conducts a regular ward 
politician's canvass for newcomers. In 
addition there is a section of the Look- 
out Committee known as " Vestibule 
Pickets," who stand in the church vesti- 
bule to invite strangers into the Friendly 
Class. ■ • 

The success of this class has led to 
the organization of classes with the same 
name and purpose in McKeesport, Pa., 
Auburndale, South Boston, Newton and 
Maiden, Mass., and in Bath, Maine. 

Inquiries regarding these classes may 
be addressed to John F. Cowan, 725 
Tremont Temple, Boston, Mass. 



64 



lis: 'Elabmo'ny with God's Plan. 

By George W. Miller, Secretary of Men's Bible Class Work of Illinois. 

Probably nothing in all the modern dom of our heavenly Father is not to 

Sunday-school world, since the intro- be called in question, 

duction of the International Sunday- With this great Scriptural truth clearly 

school Lesson System, has attracted so fixed in mind, and the deep conviction 

wide attention and commanded to such that this movement is of God and of his 

an extent the thoughtful consideration own planning, we should have a great 

of studious and progressive Sunday- and needed revival in the Sunday-school, 

school workers, as has the New Adult and the great New Movement should 

Bible Class Movement. spread throughout our country and 

In Deut. 31 : 12 we read, " Gather the Canada, 

people together, men and women and One of the most unfortunate terms 

children, and thy stranger that is within ever coined and used in reference to the 

thy gates : that they may hear, and that Sunday-school is that it is " the nursery 

they may learn, and fear the Lord your of the church." It is unscriptural, un- 

God, and observe to do all the words of wise and ill-advised ; it has wrought in 

this law." the hands of well-meaning persons great 

In the above we have an ideal Sunday- injury to the Sunday-school cause, and 

school beginning — first men and women, has conveyed the impression that the 

followed by the children and visitors or Sunday-school is for little children only, 

strangers. This splendid new era of better and 

Thus we find New Movement classes larger things seems to bid fair to revolu- 

in harmony with God's original plan, at tionize the thought and idea of Bible 

least in principle. This exact order of study, as carried on in the Sunday-school, 

men first, and then women, with the chil- and to change the present attitude of 

dren and strangers, is frequently re- the church at large relative to the vital 

peated in the Old Testament Scriptures, importance of it. 

and found inseparably associated with It has been inspired by a splendid en- 
all great revival periods of God's chosen thusiasm, which gives promise of dou- 
people. bling our present membership and in- 

We are convinced that, according to the creasing many times oui usefulness. 

Word of God, it is the divine purpose making the school a still more potent 

and plan that' adults are first to search agency for well-directed, intelligent and 

the Scriptures, and they are to be fol- deeply spiritual Bible study, such as will 

lowed by the children and youth. The result in a strong, vigorous citizenship, 

adult department is of first and supreme enriching our country and the church, 

importance; and in this order the wis- and honoring God. 



65 



How Adult Bible Classes Help the 
Chueoh akd Sunday- school. 

From address of McKenzie Cleland, president of Cook County (III.) Organ- 
ized Bible Class Union, delivered at the Illinois State S. S. Convention, Kanka- 
kee, III., May 24, 1^06. 



We have learned through our adult 
Bible class work in Cook County, that 
classes for men and women largely in- 
crease the attendance of the Sabbath- 
school. 

There is a Congregational church in 
Chicago, on the North Side, having a 
membership of three hundred, where 
there are no adult classes in the Sabbath- 
school. The school has only an average 
attendance of sixty-five. A short dis- 
tance away is another Congregational 
church having a membership of two hun- 
dred and fifty and a Sabbath-school at- 
tendance of five hundred, and this school 
has several large adult classes. A Bap- 
tist church in the same neighborhood has 
a membership of three hundred and 
ninety, and no adult classes. The school 
has an average attendance of one hun- 
dred and sixty-five. A few blocks away 
is another Baptist church with a member- 
ship of five hundred and sixty, and an 
attendance in its school of over five hun- 
dred, with several large classes for men 
and women. 

A Methodist church on the West Side 
in Chicago with a membership of five 
hundred has a somewhat larger average 
attendance in its school, with several 
large adult classes, while on the South 
Side is a church with a membership ex- 
ceeding five hundred, and without any 
adult classes, and its school has an aver- 
age attendance of only one hundred and 
sixty. i> 

These figures are taken from the last 
published reports. Many similar com- 
parisons might be given. 

A men's class was organized in a West 



Side Chicago Methodist church on 
March 1, and in two months increased 
the membership and attendance of the 
school more than fifty per cent. 

I assisted in organizing a men's class 
of forty-three members in a South Side 
church which had a church membership 
of ninety. Their school membership and 
attendance has since increased more than 
fifty per cent. 

In one year the organization of a class 
for men and one for women in a North 
Side school resulted in increasing the 
average attendance of the school from 
one hundred and eighty to nearly three 
hundred. 

We have also learned that adult classes 
largely increase the conversions in the 
schools. 

I will illustrate this by the situation in 
four Chicago districts taken at random 
from the last published reports. In one 
district there are thirty-two schools, re- 
porting one hundred and eighty-six mem- 
bers received into the church member- 
ship during the year. Of this number 
one hundred and twenty-three came from 
six schools having large adult classes, 
and sixty-three from the remaining 
twenty-six schools. Fifteen schools in 
this district reported no members re- 
ceived into the church from the school,, 
and thirteen of these had no adult classes. 

In another district there are twenty- 
eight schools reporting two hundred and 
sixty-one persons received into the 
churches. From ten of these schools 
two hundred and thirty-eight were re- 
ceived; from eighteen schools, twenty- 
three. The above ten schools have 



66 



Class Yells. 



thirty-one out of the forty-four adult 
classes in the district. 

In a large district reporting fifty-two 
schools, twenty-five have adult classes, 
and twenty-seven have none. The twen- 
ty-five reported five hundred and ten re- 
ceived into the churches, while the twen- 
ty-seven reported only seventy. 

In still another district there are twen- 
ty-four schools and thirty adult classes. 
Six of these schools have twenty-three of 
the classes, and these six schools re- 
ported two hundred and twenty of the 
two hundred and twenty-two received 
into the church membership in that dis- 
trict. 

Furthermore, adult classes are the con- 
necting link between the men and women 
of the churches and the men and women 
outside of the churches. 



Each pastor of a Chicago church has a 
parish of 23,000 men and women who 
are not members of the church, and for 
whom he is responsible. He cannot do 
them any good unless he can come in per- 
sonal contact with them, which, so far as 
he is concerned, is impossible. This prob- 
lem may be largely solved by the adult 
classes. The report of one young men's 
class shows that last year its members 
made 1,560 personal calls on men in the 
neighborhood. This year it has made 
thus far an average of over one hundred 
calls per week, the territory surrounding 
the church being divided up into dis- 
tricts for that purpose. As a result, the 
membership of this class has increased 
from sixty to about two hundred and 
forty, and its average attendance from 
forty to over one hundred. 



Class Yells. 



EPWORTH CLASS YELL. 

Epworth Bible Class, Western Ave. M. E, 
Sunday-school, Chicago. 

"Rah! Rah! Rah! 

Who are we ? 

We are the members 

Of the E. B. C." 

M M M 

YELL FOR NEW MOVEMENT 
CLASSES. 

Suggested ty C. D. Meigs, Gen. Sec'y Texas 
Sunday-school Association. 

Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! 

We're the happiest lot 

That ever you saw. 

The rule of our life 

Is the Golden Rule ; 

The school of our life 

Is the Sunday-school. 

This is the story we love to tell, 

And this is the yell 

That we love to yell: 

Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! 



We're the happiest lot 
That you ever saw. 

M M M 

BARACA CLASS YELL. 

Ak Kee— Ka Wak 
Ko War— Ko Wak 
Ah Kee— Ko Wak 
Ko Wak— Ko Wak 
Kick — a Boo — Bah 
Kick — a Boo — Bah 
Sis Boom Ah 
B-A-R-A-C-A. 

3f 3f 5f 

DELTA ALPHA CLASS YELL. 

D. A., D. A., 

So we say. 
Rah, Rah, Rah, 
Ma, Ma, Ma, * 
Caw, Caw, Caw, 
Jurra, Jurra, 

D. A. 

Daw. 



67 



Model Adtjlt Bible Class CoifSTiTUTioiJf. 



Note. — This Constitution follows closely forms to time by the Executive Committee, or elected by 
suggested by leading workers, and now in use by the class, 

many successful classes. Vacancies in committee chairmen may be filled 

Akticlb I. Name. — ^This class shall be called ^t any time by the Executive Committee. 

Article VIII. Meetings of Committees. — Meet- 

ings of the Executive Committee may be called at 

any time by the class President or the Teacher of 
the class. 

Each standing committee chairman may call his 
committee together at any time, or the Teacher or 
President of the class may call a meeting of any 
one or more of these committees. 



Article II. Object. — The object of the class 
shall be Bible study, Christian culture, social in- 
tercourse, friendly service and aggressive effort to 
bring adults into the Sunday-school and church. 

Article III. Loyalty. — It is the aim and pur- 
pose of this class to ever be and remain loyal to 
the Sunday-school and church of which it is a part, 
and to continually work in harmony with them. 

Article IV. Officers. — ^The officers of this class 
shall consist of a Teacher, President, Vice-Presi- 
dent, Secretary and Treasurer. 

These officers, together with the chairmen of the 
standing committees, shall constitute an Executive 
Committee. 

The officers of the class shall be elected at the 
first business meeting of the year. 

The election of officers shall be by ballot, a 
majority of the members present being required 
to elect each officer. 

Article V. Membership. — 

( man ) 

Any -^ woman >• between the ages of and 

/ person ) 

may become a member of this class by attending 
its meetings and signifying a desire to join. 

Article VI. Meetings of the Class. — There shall 
be a meeting of the class every Sunday at the usual 
Sunday-school hour for the study of the Bible. 

A regular business meeting of the class shall 
be held on the first Monday evening of January, 
April, July and October, at 8 :00 p. m. 

Special business meetings may be called at any 
time by the President, Teacher, or any five mem- 
bers of the class, by giving notice to the class on 
the Sunday previous to the proposed meeting. 

One third of the members enrolled shall con- 
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

Article VII. Committees. — Standing Commit- 
tees of the class shall be as follows : 

1. Membership Committee. 

2. Reception Committee. 

3. Devotional Committee. 

4. Entertainment Committee. 

5. Visitation Committee. 

The chairman of each committee shall be 
elected by the class. Each chairman shall choose 
his own assistants. 

Special committees may be appointed from time 



Article IX. Duties of Officers and Committees. — 
Section 1. — The Teacher shall have charge of the 
lesson. He shall be ex-officio member of each com- 
mittee. 

Section 2. — The President shall preside at all 
meetings and call special meetings as provided by 
Article VI. 

Section 3. — The Vice-President shall take the 
President's place in his absence. 

Section 4. — The Secretary shall keep a record 
of all business meetings of the class, also shall 
keep an account of the attendance of the class 
each Sunday and of the contribution. 

Section 5. — The Treasurer shall have charge of 
all moneys of the class. He shall pay all bills 
as ordered by it, and be prepared to ipake reports 
to the class at its business meetings, stating 
moneys received and disbursed. 

Section 6. — The Executive Committee shall have 
general supervision of the work connected with 
the class, devising ways and means of increasing 
the interest, attendance and general welfare. 

Section 7. — The Membership Committee shall 
have general charge of the work of building up the 
class, securing new members and introducing them 
to one another. 

Section 8. — The Reception Committee shall see 
that each one attending the class receives a hearty 
welcome, and shall endeavor to make strangers 
acquainted with one another and with the class. 

Section 9. — The Devotional Committee shall look 
after the spiritual interests of the class. 

Section 10. — The Entertainment Committee shall 
provide music for the class and have charge of all 
socials and other entertainments that may be 
given by it. 

Section 11. — The Visitation Committee shall do 
or have oversight of the visitation of the sick 
and other absentees. 

Article X. Amendments. — This Constitution 
may be altered or amended at any regular business 
meeting of the class by a two-thirds vote of the 
members present 



68 



Class Printing Matter. 



r\ 



be p>aoe Class 



DuOte? St. Cbuxcb, 



36o6ton. 



Cunday { Orchestra. Song Ser- 

Jessions J ^■«- ^i'TJ^"^'.% 
'' J Bible Study. Brief 

12 to 1.00 V Addresses. 

« « 

EVENING ( ^?^,^^^"^!i ''^"^f • 

PPSrtPT 1 Datlies. New Books^ 
KtaUKl ; Pictures. Writing 
7 to 10 I Table. Piano. Base- 
w«it Night.. ^ bair^core. 
« • 
r BaseballClub. Tennis 
Athletics < C/ub. Bowling Team. 
I Outings. 

^iaoketess Talks Health Talks 

I,adies' Nights 
Debates I^eetures 

Refreshments 
SociAla Quartet 

Musicals 

Employment Visitation 

Good Citizenship. 

UCM of All occupations, profeasion* auid 
nitli creeds ar« welcome. 



^^s six 



Name '* ^'d. ,*^ *^ <<> have 

ADDRESS 



1-^ Q FACE OF 

llNVITATION CARD. 



.X 



V^^ 



x^'^ 



\\^ 






^^^ ..s\<^^^^- 



.G^ 



CV*^ 



f^r^T^^^, 



sO 



c^ 



GUASS FEATURES 

MORALITY SPIRITUALITY 
FRATERNITY SOCIABILITY 
PHILANTHROPY ATHLETICS 
GENERAL HELPFULNESS 



^ 



7e zxt interested in body, soul and spirit. 
Can we interest YOU?. 



to 



oo 



.-OO 



\o 



'%rtjr 



BACK OF 
^T-— <S INVITATION 
CARD. 



Batttf 






of 



nieet 



Hau 






X 



Would you like to 
belong to a 

GLEE CLUB^ 
BASE BALL TEAM i-' 
SICK BENEFIT SOCIETY ♦ 

We have them x 

^ X 

X 

If you join us our membership will be ^ 

X 

XX 
X * X 

i^ X 

X Class Motto: JJ 

X "More of Cbristj More for Christ.'* X 

iKinarCiKinannni^Sannrw 



69 



Class Printing Matter. 



o 13-.5 

(U J* .C8 (U 

»- (U o 

? 3 a. — 

►*> c ^ ^ 



Ill 

S 

o 

•J 5h 

bJ <S 

z . 

o t 
z o 

S -I 

u 
ci J 



o 
o 

u 



3 3: 



Bl BLE CLASS NO. 2 




^,i»»»tpf ,^ 

nXTHOOtsr CHuacu 



Every Sunday in the year, you will find a welcome here. 

Wellington St. Heth. Cliurch & Sabbath School 



THE MORRIS CLASS FOR 

^™ AC^Att^TANCE CARD 




Address I jriend, place 



THE MORRIS CLASS FOR MEN 



Meets in the First Baptist 
Church each Sunday at 
1 2 o'clock for Bible Study 

Music by the Orchestra 

Bible Reading and Prayer 



O General Topic 

The Great Men of the 

Occasional Vocal Selections 
Class Singing 




A^ CORDIAL WELCOME ALWAYS, TO MEN 
Dr. H. 0. Smith, President (over) W. B. Morris, Teacher 






t% 



70 



Class Printing Matter. 



WE ARE AIMING AT 



F-ii-sst XJ. 13. 
Sunday School. 

BapfeePtGR, Bh'iQ, 

Tliis is a "ifeii's Bible Class** 
■for nmtaai helpfalness in flie 
streugthenifijj of Moral Oharaeter; 
to form a more intimate and per. 
sniml acqaaintiiice with Uie Bible 
for daily gnitlaac(»; to assist in 
developing tbe social and religii.a* 
life of the churob and raise the 
jstamUutl of ri^ht living throughout 
the comir.nuitv. 




FOR. OUR. CLASS— JAN. I, 1907 
WE MUST NOT MISS ITJ 




WHEN -Sunday at 12:15 p. m. 
WHERE-Pirst Presl>yterian 
C:hni*ch, rear of Sun- 
day School Room. 
— Any younp man be- 
tween 16 and 28. 
—You'll find it worth 
while. 



71 



•3^ 



Class Printing Matter. 



9SiZ/e ^/a<Ky toAicA^ fne^ tiZ /^:30 ^ ^. m Me &^«/ 







Simply , 

your address 

Kindly write vour name and address 
below and drop 'in the collection basket. 
You will then receive notices and invita- 
tions to our socials ami other affairs of the 
class. We will not compel vou to come, 
but we shall not dissapoint you if you da 

Young Mai's Clasi, 
Third Baptist Sunday School 



Name . , 
Address 



gou are cordtaUg intotteb to allenb \\t meetings 

of d^lass j^0. 0, of tl;e ^itgltsf^ "^utiferan ^unStag 

^'rI(ooI» darf teld Square, eberg ^unliaQ afternoon 

at 2 oVIorb. 

5. |l. ^ItellQ, ^nt\tt 



^i.vnA w' Qpuvtr-is! . / Preaching. lOiCXy a. m. and 7:30 p. m. Sunday 
blNDAV 6,ER\iCEb.| School. 2 P. M. Y. P. S. C. E.. 6:30 P. M. 

Prayer Meeting. Thursday evening. 7:30. 









'I »Ta$ glad when they said unto to me. let us go 
Into the bouse of the Lord."— Pa. cxxti-I 



VZ 



Class Printing Matter. 




Sa'be This Card See Of her Side 

YOUNG MEN'S CLASS 

PILGRIM CHURCH 

BOSTON 
;OLUMBIA ROAD DORCHESTER DISTRICT 



Directors and Teachers 

Rev. Wiluam H. Aubricht, D. D. 

Mr. Sbtm MfiNDEi.i< Mr. John G. King 

Registry and Treasurer 
Mk. Chester A. Coombs 

fcZaw president Vice-Presiderd 

WitUAM Shipp, Jr. F. N. Horton 

Class Secretary 

Waldo Richardson 



fVSn/tY JESSIOMS FROM 13 TO I O'CLOCK 

A place {or each one, with Numbered Seat, Bible, 
Soug Book and Note Boole. 

MU Vaang Man wilt find a Cordial W«teoin0 
JOCXJft MEETXXGS 

Social, Business Meeting and Entertainment, the 
third Tuesday of each month. 

Our class now numbers seventy-five. Can you 
afford to lose the help, mentally, morally, spirit- 
ually and socially, which this class offers? If not, 
CQjue. 

CLJtSS MOTTO 

Friendship, Fidelity, Fettcwship 



'''-eeport, m. *** 

^n beha/f or the sflvirf*"~*~*~" """' — ~~— — 

*" W. Gardner 



7i S^oet CorDtal SniJttation 



I 



S extended to you to spend a pleasant hour from 12 to 1 o'clock this Sunday with 
the Dewey Bible Class for men at the First Methodist Episcopal Church (oppo- 
site Post Office). We convene at 12 o'clock closing promptly at I. You will 
'enjoy our song and responsive service, the music by our excellent orchestra and 
the special musical number by some one of Rochester's best soloists. A brief 20 
minutes talk on the lesson by the teacher may be helpful to you. 

K you find it convenient to meet with us we will give you a good time. 
Bring this card, hand it to one of the u^ers and it will serve as a card of introduction.* 



Thra». Instructor 




73 



Class Printing Matter. 



LIFE QUESTIONS ANSWERED 
mm men's ^g/^ $wMuv$«titoo* 

BAPTIST TEMPLE. 

BROOKLYN, N. V 



WM. A. KLO^PPEL 

TEACHER 



♦ 

ma 

TDor 



v(0^ 



TOPICS, 19$5 
Oct. 1st — To snccecfl" 

•• 8th— To'- 

■• 15th— 

'• 22nd— 1 

" 29th— T? 
ligj. 5th— To ' 

" 12th-rTot^ 

" 19tjt»— Topic\ 

" 26tH— To be ■ 
Dec. 3rd— To be c! 

" 10th— To be 1 

" 17tb— To be htOid 

•• 24tb— Christmas i 



^G 



TO 






^S^^ 



rip 



to 



res 



kno^. -the"- 



"«>> 



yO 






ife9 



uaf 



wi> 



'•>9l"" 



-::">' 



kO^ 






cv 



.s« 






.-CN) 



ti^' 



5ve^ 



GO 



^^ 



1^" your ■ ^^Oh? nf " . 



\/ 



^^ ~ ^ 






^'"e,.._^ ^^^'n's Class, 

^ddr^ss. """""■""" — - 



ate. 



' ^^'^c^^c/ ^j^^ 



r 



THE MEN'S SEMIOS'AH^ 

IOCS 



Are you a member of the Seminar 7 If you >re,youvyflIbe ln t e rmeJin thti 
tFnot. we warn you to get interested. Come and join the, Seminar, b meeia 
every Sunday at noon in the church auditorium. 



HEPvE IS WHAT WE ARE TO TALK ABOUT 
Some Practical Questions Connected With iffodem UfP^Ahd How 



Jtsus -Answers Them, 



Leader. The Pastor. 



74 



Class Printing Matter. 



i 

In 

Q 



ij 



-OF THB 



ll#li#ii.&i ipis@@pal 



mattoon, Illinois 

Extend a cordial invitation to all nnen of the city and 
strangers to attend the class session at 9:50 a m. 



U. T. S. RICE. Teaches 



Some 



ovn 



IP^^t.. 



^RT)i 



Votj 



A I. 



>^12LC 



AND 



<y 



Me 



TO 




W. C. SADDLER. Pres. 
CHAS. PETERSON. Sec'y 
JAS. BARCLAY. Treas. 



MJ2JVJ XWcsky Class of Grace M. E 

Sunday School. 



THE 



/of^^wd^^ 



<i>^'^.;o- 



.1*- 



1v^^ 









1. tAs To Organization. 
A regularly organized class with president, 

vice-president,si5Cretary and treasurer, elect- 
ed in January aud July, who shall be the ex- 
ecutive coromittee. and a membership com- 
mittee of five who shall invite new members 
and look aXcsr any who may grow indifferent. 

2. As To Class Spirit, 

Not a group who<are .content to enjoy each 
other's friendship, but a company who will 
seek out those who may be helped by this 
companionship and religious instruction. 

3. As To School Spirit. 

Such deportment during all the exercises of 
the School as is in barmouy with the day and 
the place and will be worthy the imitation of 
other classes. 

4. As To Work. 
Not an easy time listening to the teacher, 

•hut an active participation in the discussion j 
'andLhoine study of the lesson to make this 
possible. Also systematic instruction and 
review by the teacher in Bible geography 
and history, such as shall give Increasing 
koowlfidge of the Scrli)tures. 

5. As To Name. 
One which will stand for the ideals stated. 

And sfs John Wesley was the embodiment' of 
Christian culture and active evangelism, .w« 
choose to caH this the ''Wesley Class." 



>V^^ 



^°^ o-f^ 




\p- 



jS^K^^ 



^^mmJM/oUi^^ 



75 



Class Printing Matter. 



Date.. 



Third Baptist CWSunday School, fjl^. ^jj^^^^^. 






We extend a cordial welcome to strangers 

AnJ that we may know fliem {He better we request -fiieta to £11 
flie blanks on flils card and hand to flie Secretary o{ class. 



Name 

Residence ... 

Business address 



Mr. 



What is your church relationship?!..... I ^^lASS last Sunday. 1^ y°^ ^ ;\ ^o have you join "witb us. 



lAy Deaf Sir : 
We we 
Xf you are 
than pleased to have 



We -'"^P^^^^'^T^^rany other class 
member of any 



inoutDEWEV 

oti 

Wekno-w 






^e would be more ,„„tter. 

vou often as a visitor. 



shall be glad to see 



Most sincerely yours. 




pmiaenV De'wey CUss. 



Mr.. 



My Dear Sir : 

We were pleased to have you with us at 
our DEWEY CLASS session on Sunday last and beg to extend to 
you a most cordial invitation to meet with us whenever you are in 
our city over the Sabbath. 

We tnist that you will always remember that a hearty welcome 
awaits you at any of our sessions. 

Most truly yours. 



Teacher. 



yUMor 




76 



Class Printing Matter. 



THE RIPPEY CLASS. 



Name 
Address 



ASS. ^ ^ 
MEMBERSHIP CARD. 

Date 1900. 



1t\m/\hmy 



"Business AdSrau- 

Age 

Are 



Occupation- 



Are you a member of any other class t 

Are you a member of any Church ?_ ^ _.J— 

If so, what one? ^ ^ ^^^^,^ . .^ "TTu^le Cl^^SS* 

"^^T^ EP^^^o^TTERSON. Teacher. 

ALU ate ii^n ttend ^^Ken^!!L£- ^^_, 



•« <;ecunng «"'^ , .tie Cla»«' 

«, ... ew"""* 



Sign Here: 



please enr 



Date,-- 



by 



BRANTFORD... 



.190-.. 



VISITOR 



To-day I am a Visitor vrith vou. 



Namei mis» V- 



(Airs., 



Home ) 
Addre&sj ' 



City Address if ) 
•way from Home j *" 



.TO JOIN CLASS 

I desire to become a. Member of Bible 
Class No. 2, and iti so doing promise \n 
some way to be a HELPER, and will 
endeavor to attend 



..Sunday iu the month. 



Name 



/-Mr \ 

\ Miss > . 
Ulrs.j 



Address _ _ 

Please write Mr. Mrs. or Hiss plainly. 



77 



Class Printing Matter. 




APP1.ICATION FOR Membership 

Seek ye Hrst tlic kingdom of God and his righteousness and All these 
things shiill be adUcd unto you.— MalL 6:33. 



MppliCQtrOI95t 

'for ' Class • 
i /Membership ♦ 



I wish to become a member of the Brotherhood Bible Class, 
and hereby pledge myself to live a clean moral life, and to be 
present at every Sunday Meeting except when I absolutely can- 
not; to try my utmost to influence other young men to take up the 
work and to render assistance in every possible way to further the 
objects of the Class. 



Name. 



Address 

Occupation 

The Annual Dues Are Fifty 



tn'^ 



MEMBERSHIP CARD 



Residence A<1«1'^ 

Business Aid'^- 
Residence Phone. 
Present Occupation. ^^^^^^^^_ 

Remarks;. 



Business Phone- 



-^hat one"?- 



/AUGHN CLASS CLUB 

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C 

PLEDGE 

It is the desire of my life to live uprightly, and with Christ as my guide, 
with His help, I ^hall endeavor to reflect His life in mine. 

I do solemnly promise to assist our Teacher and Pastor in their worthy 
efforts to encourage ycung men to fortify their character by living close to 
Christ. 

APPLICATION 

It is my desire to join the Club as an active member, and do hereby 
agree, with God's help, to live up to the requirements of the Pledge and 
(institution. 



Signed. 



Address. 



m 




78 



Class Printing Matter. 






TO >N- **• 

Nawe 3f r'-ioHT. «<*" 

House Addre3» -^^^ .^„,<,., eo. 

B.in.s ^^^^^^J^^ --^ --• 

oocs '*°;v.T..T.o«. e^ jj^yNameis ZZ^Z^ 



, ^« -^Please ^^^«^e. -^ 



7.1[W/2MA)(yQ^^ 



A 



FEB. I MAR. APR I MAY I JUNE JULY AUG. 



DEC. 



Membership "Record 



'♦ 



//O. 



'Date 



J^ame 

A ddre>ss 

1Bu>rines^ Addre>r>£ 
Residence Thone 



Easiness "Phone 



I JAN. I FEB. I MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. | DEC 



7tf 



Class Printing Matter. 



TTT^ 



NAME. 



REMARKS. 



Ivuyv^ 



■ :J ^^1/^^24) 



O ^ 

Bible Study Brotherhood 

VENABLESTREET 

BAPTIST Sunday-school 

R!CHA\OND. VIRGINIA. 

ATTENDANCE "^^ ^^id^ 
COMMITTEE 

MEMORANDA 







cHo. of Calls on Members, 
<^o. of Calls for New Members, 
cHp, of Ne%u Members Secured, 
cNs)' of 'Visits to Sick, 
Flowers Sent to, ... 

Financial Aid to, . , . 



Every Committee-man is to Kave 
Fifteen Members to look after and 
report on eacK montK. 

Space IS left for at least three 
ne'w members names ana addresses. 

1 his report snould be aelivered 
personally or mailed to Mr. A. J. 
SMITH. 2202 Venable street, before 
the first of eacb montb. 

JOHN GILL, S. Lf. THOMAS. 

President. Teacher. 



80 



Class Printing: Matter. 



^j^}mAQ -ow^ Iw^yni^^km^ M^trbi/. 



Report for Membership Committee. 

SUNDAY 190.. 

"Absent" Members in Attendance To-day. 



Absentees Three Consecutive Sessions. 



Visitors Present Three Sessions. 




81 



Class Printing Matter. 



SBCRBTARY'S RBRORT 

TO XHB 

LOOKOUT COMMITTEE. 



Loot^off^ Committee: 

Following are delinquent; please trace 



Name 



Address 



Phone 



Uatp. of Last 
attendakok 



Remarks 



RECORD OF ATTENDANCE 



Sun Jai 



Feb 



Mar 



A pi 



May 



Jun** 



Jub 



Aatr 



7l76V 



Sei>t 



Oct 



Nov 



Deo 



^. 



1 

r 




Bible Class 
No.2. 



WELLINGTON ST. METH 
SABBATH SCHOOL 

Canada 



Brantford 




S 



CLASS REGISTER 

No. 176 



Mame. 



^^ 



Address. 




Enrolled 



^ 



1905 



Introduced by. 
Address. 




ALWAYS OCT YOUR TICKET WHEN COMING INTO CLASS 
PLCASe ASK rOR AND BE SORE AND HAVE YOUR FRIENDS FILL IN VISITOR'S TICKET 



82 



^lijss Printing- Matter. 







83 



Class Printing- Matter. 




itotlfnlfaDh Sibb (EIusb 

at 

Aaral^alltiiQtn, Jaan 

Please call during the coming week on the fol- 
lowing and report to the Secretarj' of the class or the 
Chairman of the { L^okou, | Committee. Goand bring 
them to Sunday School next -Sunday 

Name . , 

Address 
Last Present 

Report 

Name ..„. 
Address ... 



'{flelps IN LflD% afllr^ 




84 



Class Printing- Matter. 



Glass Finances. 

.. The Class Finances are paid from the Class 
Treasury, which is supplied oby weekly con- 
tributions from the members. 

Every oneois urged to put aside a certain 
amount each week for this purpose, but no 
one is asked to give more than he feels able to. 

Be sure to secure envelopes for the year 
from the Secretary. 
G. G. WESTFALL-, - - President. 

33 Glasgow St. 

C. H. BiDELMAN, - - Vice-President. 

il Wanrick Ave. 



(f/ass^j^/Ja/pces-t- 



Pledge to the Annual Budget 

OP THE 

PLYMOUTH YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE CLASS 

Foe the general support of Class WorK. 



$5.00 per quarter 



*.O0 per qusrfer 



3.00 per quarter 



2.50 per quarter 



PH0EN»>^ 



^e RELIEF FUNL^ ^2.00 per qu^r 
OL.^^ It. 50 pet quarter 



,0, Ex..usW.e use o, Co.n,«ee 
N.edyMem*>ersot Class. 



cents per Month 
lor B!B«e' »' 



.25 per quarter 



.00 per quajtiT 



.50 per quartet 



I promise to pay to the 
Treasurer of the Plymouth 
Young- Men's Bible Class 
the sum against which my 
hiark, X, has been placed 
on each of the following 
dates : 

Oct.l,t90 Jan.1J90 . 
Apr. 1,190 July 1,190 , 
for the general support of 
Ctass Work. 



Forty-first Street 

Presbyterian Church 



WEEKLY OFFERINGS' 



$ 



*Directions 

Please mark with a X {tr>the 
columa on tlie left, the sum 
you are' willing to pledgje ^s a 
weekly offering to- the Lord 
for the year beginning 

November IstJ 1903 

nslng a blank space if yovi select a som 

not mentioned. 

A package of email envel- 
opes will then be furnished 
you (one for each Sunday.) 

Each Sunday enclose the a* 
mount of your weekly^bffering 
in tbe.envelope^and seal if 

In case of absence for one or 
more Sundays, enclose the full 
amountduewith thefitstoffer- 
ing that is made and destroy 
the envelopes tiot used. 

This pledge, being purely 
voliiiitary, may be recalled at 
any time by giving notice. 

Write yournameand address 
and place this .card in colleC' 
tlon pjate next Sunjlay. ." 



APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YtAR» 

\etaTy's Department, f 

tasurer's " $ 

'Membership Commiitte, $ 

Social " J 

ViSitaliott *• ) 

Religious Work $ 
Total estimated expense br year, 5 



T/)e lota/ amount of above pledge is — 
Signed 



members. . — " ~~ 

, •11 ,t each week towara the oitrent expenses of 

'"*''^kBROTHERHOOD BIBLE CUSS 

of the M. E. Sunday School, for the year closing October 1st, ^ 

190 



Name. 



Address. 



Date, 



Name 

Residence 



Every man 
jp-udKingly, o 



according as 
necessity 



ho purposeth 
; fur God lovetn 



n his heart., so let him give, not J 
8 cheerful giver.-2 Cor. 9 :7, /> 



85 



Class Printing Matter. 



r 



Constitution and By Laws 



OP 



The Dewey Class 

Mutual Benefit 

Society 



OF 



The First M. E. Church 



ROCHESTER. N. Y. 
Feb. 18. 1903 






^uttbag §cM, .... 



^^net>a, (Jt. qp 







'Yoke Fellom's 

OF THE 

First M. E. Church, 
auburn, n. y. 




ORGANIZED JAJOJARY 
1903. 




«.^. 



'«?■ 




ARTICLE 1. 
Name and Object. 

Section 1 — This orgranizatlon shall 
be known as the St. Paul's Bible Class. 

Section 2 — The objects of this clasa 

Ahall be the study of the Bible and to 

•neoura^e youngr men to lead a better 

life both morally and socially. 

ARTICIJS II. 

Membership. 

Section 1 — Any young man over the 
oge of 16 years man become a mem- 
ber of this class by filling out the 
membership blank. 

Section 2 — Any member who Is ab- 
sent from the class four successive 
^Sundays shall be waited upon by the 
VWUng Committee who shall ascer- 
\*tn the cause of his absence. 



86 



Class Printin)^ Matter. 



0\jr Emblem. 



The E^arnest Cl\ib 

• • • 

CONSTITUTION. 

• • • 

AKTICLE 1. 

ORr.ANI/.ATtnM. 

This cinit shall be known as "The Earnest CluK 
AKTICLE II. 

OBJECT. 

The object of this club shall be the study of the 
Bible and the cultivation of brotherly intercourse and 
mutual benefit 

ARTICLE III. 
The officers of this club shall consist of a teacher, a 
president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer, 
which shall be elected on the second Sunday in January, 
at the regular meeting of the club These five shall 
constitute an executive committee. 



ARTICLE IV. 

Any man may become a member of this club by at 

tending the club and signifying a desire to join. He 

shall then be elected to all the privileges of the club, so 

*[qjjc7 Jig \lQ, COmP^ "*^ ii/if^ itc riil<»c anrl r^nrnl .^ t-i..\rte 



ciuu ana signirying a aesire to jom. t 
elected to all the privileges of the club, i 
)mplies with its rufes and regulations. 



W^' — 

CONSTITUTION 

AND 

BY - LAWS 

OP TBS 

Dewey Bible Cl 

FOR MEN. 



lass 




First 
Methodist Episcopal Church 



ROCHESTER, R.T. 



1899. 



■^B 



T 



(danstxttttian and ^^-yms 



of tin 



€♦ %. Stmn OITess ifixt. xXf 



North Qlhurrh Sunriar Srhnnl. 
Constitution and By-Uws 

..OF- 

Mrs. Lem. R- Hartmans 

BIBLE CLASS 

^VOUNO PEOPLE 

fwAYNE STREET 

L Sunday School 

fORT WAYNE. IW>. 



"""I'm' "^^ 






87 



Class Printing Matter. 



OFRCERS. 

W. M. FOGLER, Teacher. 

w! M. FARMER, As^stiBl Teacber 

J. J. BROWN. PresldenU 

J. R. McAFEE, Secretary. 

SI. BULLINGTON. Treasurer 



ifllben'e JSible Clase 

f trdt AetboMst Eptscoi.tal Sunday Scbool. 

VANDALIA, ILLINOia. 



"Men at Work For Men, All Standing by tfte B(bl».' 



EXEail Yg CO MIMTTEE 

N BaSCOM. Chairaan. 
J.H.WtBB. 

CHAS-OGLESBY. 
GEa r. SNERLY. 

J. 0. GUINN. 






1 




Alexander. J. X* 
Ausiia,CLI> 

Rascom. Ber. N, 
Burnslde.J. O. 
Blackwell, Ctasa, 
Rioiriiman. Gea 
batemui. Dr. 
CftrmuiK, J. W. 



ColemaD, C. P 
Conrad, W. A. 
Curry, Tboa, 
Cbeebier, Ben 

DUon, Albert 
Easterdajr, 9. 
Eajtterday, Kr«d 
Bvao9, A. L. 
EakiD, Jame9 
EmerlGk, Noab 



Fralley. J. It. D. 
Kreelaad, H. U 
Fletcher, P. B. 



Johnson, Wamo 
Rfyward. Wm. 
Haoklna, Jane* 
Huts. H.T. 
Hnuck, B. a 
Hinlun. H. 

Krinter, Jobo 
Lueker. Adoipb 



S«>ie«.J. P. 
Sbafer. Cbrll 
Schrind. W. & 
Snillb. D. B. 
Soerly. Geo. 
Snook, G. K. 
Steinbacer. Geo. D 
Siurffess, Bart 
StunreES, Tom 
^nneraann. Cbaa. 
Summers. Wm. 
.^hroyer. John 
SHwrej, Wm, 



Taylor. Fraok 
Todd, W. U. 
Travis, D. L. 
WMiiOncr, Wm. 
Whitten. D. U. 
w«bb. J H. 
Waiioo, WUIard 



Wanted— THE OTHER FELLOW 




Vaughn 
Bible 







-w*^ ♦ •««» v^ ^ 



*»<*«* 



'»<ClH« 



OiCaaJTi A 1889 wiib 



Eantkiea O OC 



March. -06 



9 Mofe ihaa 3.000 
Touag Biea turebcai 
coaoected widi the 
aa> and are DOW 
•caused tfaroagkoui 
the world 













.».<!. 



XlXDle JBrotbers JSible Class 



fMSt MCTHOOttT CmSeOTM. CHURCM 



lacoma, Mael)., Nov. is, 190 6 



The Hemenway Men's Class 

Evanston, IIllnoi« 



Ornce tto«R» 
Erei7 Sowlar. KM-tbii^ o"clo<* 




LOFC. 

88 



Class Printing Matter. 



Totei4 Maai GIre dlQreBcfe ind present thyself 

approved unto God, a w — *■ -*^-' — ■' - 

■not to be asKamed, handll 
Tnith.— II Timothy, 2:H. 



* ?. 3>. ?. ■ _-■ 



BROTHERHC 



Brotherhood BibI* Qua 

tiCTMOOIST SUNOAV SCHOOL 
■■**aMAi.i.TawM, *«w* 
Cluo OtBcm 
Tucbcr, 0*. CCORGE e. WAKBEIG 
InlTeaclttf, THOMAS STOTTS 
President. FtEO W CARL 
Vice Prelldent, ELMER BETZ 
S««ury, CHAUNCEY STRAVSS 
Trusurer, CASBOLL B. JOHNSTOB 
VUltor. UNDLEY HAMPTON 
Reporter, RALPH WILOMAN 

Caa^tt*« Cfc i lm eo 
Adrttory, RET. MERU R. SMITB 
Exe<utlve, FRED W. CARL 
Membership. DIUAS W. AOTRET 
Lookout, ELMER BETZ 
Enlertalnmenl. P. F. AENEY 
Employment, DR. GEO. E. WANBERG 



Osr Pvrpose: To promote practical Christian 
living amon^ young men. by attaining a Itnowl- 
edge of the Bible, and to assist t^em in building 
up strong characters, and to prepare them to till 
responsible positions in life. 




S ead I > cenu (or Souveoir looUet of Ow Oia. 



MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA,. 



.190.„. 



Sm. 8. Srnfam, tSmtltn. 

72 nallarr &trrrt. 
■rst BvmnbiiU. 0a§M, 



Wist Bmmtbfik 




WM. H. PERRY. 



•■II g erTiincn.ftt.. 
Bret frmnrrbtUr. tSaa*. 



iBajjtiBt (EI|urrI|. 



o 



i. K. REED. TKACHtIt 



"COME THOU WITH US AND WE WILL 00 THEE GOOD" 

YOUNG MEN'S BIBLE CLASS 

CALIFORNIA AVE. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

CAUPORN'A AVENUE AND MONROE STREET 

MCrrS 10 A. M EVERY SUNOAV 



P»Mlllailt 

FRANK H. WHITTCI 
Vlu Prtildmt 

WILLIAM BENTON 
Trtuurtr 

HARRY KNAPP 

SecrtUrr 

CEORSE MACKAV 

Ftt^mnclal SKretanr 

e. I. HAMLIN 

Ctiatnvtn Lockout C^mmltte* 

GRANT O. SEATON 

Cbllrmmn Social CommlttAo 

DAVID JONES 

Chairman Hoapllml CammlllM 

GEO. HUDSON 






9«ka y, SllcMM*. V. V. 

" ' TMctar 
BaXdMoo TH R. Ctenr Stroat 

«M<( Slljtbctb •utlit4« 

aaaMaMc laa K. (310ITT nntt 

». a. rneo 

AvaMaiK 

f, C. SallM 

Flrtl Viet PntHMI 

CtaclM Smm 
Sscutd Vht Pmiiam 



THE AITCHISON BIBLE CLASS 



THE FIKST BAPTIST CHURCH 



OAZiKSBCIiO. VUAStOf 



Obarlu X. tic» 

Sacnury 

Conn yiTnn 

>ls5i6lan( Secnltry 

Srtbat Stl»4C 

Trwasurer 
attinr mite 

Z./6rarjan 

^tcr fBiinMn 

ChoristMf 

Utbeia 

I t C/«rt B. A. Rogtrt 

Fnnk Thitis 

Ctrlitio Cunll 



\ 



Rev Edvard B. Shav. TMchet. 

98 Crtcnc Stttcl. 



Samuel W.Taylor, cor. secrewry. 

IM Cwftttion Sirctt. 



THE SHAW CL\SS FOR MEN 



orncERs 

tihHX FORDEN, Pmldent 
DAVIO CHE8Rr,ViM Prealdedk 
LUTHER H. CLASK, Secrtlarr 
CHARLES N. HOLOREDGE. Treanrar 
SAMUEL *.TAyiX>R,Cor. SemivT 



PLEASANT VIET BAPTIST CHURCH 
Pavtucket, R. I. 



Ckatrmen ol dalnnhnftk 
VM. ROGERS, Soeiil 
SAMUEL S. MICHAUO, laTlutle* 
GEORGE P. VHALEY,Vlaltl>t 
FRANK FORDEN. Muale 
AI,rRED STOKES, Siraaf<rarrM< 



MOPVNtKT WNINVntOTOADOCBS'naaASS'' 
locKa > C Canin. Oe». of t. i 
te* V. H. P ramx. Pres. trev* 
»n JorinR.BK>vn.PtDyldenceJl.i 
.kmes H HiolnA. Mayor of r*« ' 



89 



Class Printing Atatter. 




90 



Class Printing- Matter. 



BovLBtB wuh BpmktvB 



Vur diaam 



Ml Batde MeLester. Toastmaster 



I tkatt tk» effect of ihi$ good lesson keep 
A* matchmaa to my heart " 

—Mt A P Vard 



(StoBB llnrm- " The Boy» " 



Mr V C. M. Tboinas 



Qlhr (Siirtanan f nting Aan tn Buataraa 

" He hath a daily beauty m hU life." 

— Mt. J. Loo Foasi 
Olir Qauiifi SuBtnraa floti tn tlir (Stiurrb 

"To bastness that we love we rise betime 
And go to t with delight " 

—Ml John S. Martin 

Slir JVati and Xnfair 

** Thm light that lies in a>oman't eyes 
And lies and Ue* and lies. " 

—Ml Cbas V Rankin 

(Airlattan (Stttzritabtp 

•■ Religion crowns the statesman and the man." 



XLoasts 



,10V. of «n«»°'^ *"' ^ PAGB. 

a». Ot*er man. ^^ *^ r,v. P S. Hb^^^^'^-^^ 
Pastoraliacau. p.bs Bb.b.k. V M^-chb.^ 

RiS($)WTV. SEC-IT F ^^^'^^' 

ttmrs. ^ oovE«c.Om.o and others 

^_ a B. QUABTET 
PACE CLASS 6 B.W OaFTN^T 

a W MAKTll'. b »^ • 

U M. ALEX^««'*\v E HA*iMErrT ^^^^, 

.. Kentucky Babe. ror 

..juanita,- ^^^^^^^ ^^sbv ^,^, 

.. armourer's Song- ^ ^ sp.NNEV jj„rt«e» 

•'^--^:r«t"--HE. .HO .ueXAHOEB ^^^^ 

..^rtny and Navy ••■ 



'='«OGRAM 



Music 

^Ph Sxoffs 
p^orgf /M/lhiser 
t^«V Gray 
Vocal Solo 



'"vocarfon Rev w c ^ 

'''^''"' '^--<^oUo Out 
^ongan Coleman 
^°y Good 
R S Jay 



Toasi Easier, p c .'*""' 
L'fe s Foundations / '^"'^V 

J^ch,recrura;p,a„3 " '^:'" ^ »- Coflfeen 
'^''^ Home /ndesrrucfble ' '°''" °°°^eH 

es. '°"«-^B c No 3,''^'''^* 
^3 •* "^ "^'^dm. Eldora " 

J--*. 8 8 c No «, 



•oc*. ^^^, 



••w* 



PROGRAM 

TeaatoiMler . 

Mr. Prans C Rbichtxb 

"Big and Little Dippers" 

Mk Thouas N. McBdrkbv 

Duet— 'Neatb the Stars A. Gortng-T^omai 
Mr and Mrs. Burton H. atwood 

"Star-gazing— Stella-huntine" ...... 

Mr Wm a. McUBRKtO 



Violin Solo— Serenade 

Mi^ Mauo KUUAIX 

•The Morning Star" . 

Hon. Cmakus G. Nbbl* 



Drdta 






91 



Class Printing Matter. 



TOASTS AND MUSIC 



Toastmaster, J. RITCHIE PATTERSON 



MUSIC '• '.^ . ,. v.r .J . Epworth Bible Class Orchestra 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME . . c . President Raymond Elliott 

TOAST— "Influence of Bible Class" .... Hugh C. Beelman 

VOCAL SOLO Mrs. Clara Oliphant Schlotfeldt, Our Member from the Phillipines 



TOAST— "Our Class" ...... 

TOAST— "Our Text Book— The Bible" 

MUSIC 

TOAST— "Our Old Members" . . . 

TOAST— "Young People and the Church" 

TOAST— "Our Primary Department" .... 

SOPRANO SOLO . . . . 

Accompanist, Mrs. Maud Carthgart 

TOAST— "How the Bible Classes Help this Church" 

CLASS SONG 

TOAST— "Th# «Uble Class" 




Miss Ada Demerest 

Dr. M. E. Cady 

• . Orchestra 

Harry K. Roney 

Dr. Charles O. Brown 

Mrs. Wm. G. Coles 

Miss Mirth C. Carmen 

Dr. John D. Leek 
. By Everybody 



McKenzie Cleland, Director Adult Department, 

Cook County b. S. Association 



Cmttas* Prop. MtTCBBti CAsaoit 

"To you , gentle BuMt* aad meiliber* all. 
Ourgratulatioiisnow io •tresnu unbouaded ** 

9irr 9ait Mt ti?r Prrarnt Ms. L. S. TUNNBY 

"Bjrstudyiog the p*(t we catcb TMoiuof 
the Future." 

« 
.9l|r %Umwt» Cltr Hon. St. GEOttcs TuCBBR. 
"He went dowa io a pit oo « •tormjrday 
•od (lew a lion." 

HoitiiB lira for fauns '«* 

Ray. Curtis Leb Laws, O. D. 

"Every m^ii however humble hit station 
in life or intellectunt powers, exercises tame 
influence od thuae about him for good oi fot, 
evil " 

#t(U fariiln^ on mg Bangtitrr Mr. John H Tbomas 

Earth hotdn nO other like to thee. 
Or if it do(h, io vain for me 



Cobr of <Sinnttr|| 



hON Hannis Tavlou 



"Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam. 
Hit first, best country, ever is at home " 

OpportmiltlrB wll lr«|iinutbiHtir« 

Mr. W C. FRANKLIN 

"Who aeeks, and will not take wheo *ae 
'tis offered, shall never find It more " 

^rirtim 3trltahi(i)lp 

Rev Samuel H. GREBN'b, D. D. 
"What • fellowship, what a joy divine " 

tnto Mr F W 

"Consult Duty, not eveists ' 



(From Vaughn Clasa Banquet Profrua. 



Vaucrn ■ 



92 



Class Printing Matter. 



Class 
♦Keijuspapcrs * 




93 



Class Printing* Matter. 



TOPICS FOR 

Dec. 1905, 3aii: and f eb. 1906 

Dewey 
Bible Class 

for Men ^ 

MEMBERSHIP 425 

ifir0t 99et6o&i0t (Cpisf copal 
CgutcD 

CORNER FITZHUGH AND CHURCH STS. 

OFFICERS 

ERWIM E. Shutt, Teacher 

1023 Chamber of Commerce Btilldinj 
B. M. SMITJl, President, 219 Jay Street 

j. S. QUICKE, Vlce-Pret«. 409 Wilder Building 

B. H,. Far^m;her, Sec'y. 21 Cady Street 

RobertCalder, Treas., 86 Exchange Street 



BiW« School IW fw 



0^^' 



O®"^ 






-y" 



avV 



,d- 



•lj^t^66tw-1jk^* 






1^» 



^^^ 

*>•:>' 



.^^- 



*»' 






.vvl' 



s«^^ 



.V?' 



^1.*^^° 

^n^** 



C/^ 









Q.«T"''^, 









^. 



'V< 



I * /e 






/O/, 



0. "V '^^^M. 



'VJe/, 



^^At, 



94 



Class Printing Matter. 



YOUNG MEN'S 
BIBLE CLASS LEAGUE 

o/Eoanston 

BASE-BALL 

Schedule 



•Errimanuels vs.. Acorns 
^£i!!f^fJ^^_Centrals 

S^^Wvs^Moi^ans 

ii!!!!ii::f:^iphians 







<^^iilphJU^ 



Class Printing Matter. 



Don't Miss It! What? 

^ A r T Y DAY SUNDAY of the Hemenway Men's 

Evanston, Illinois. September 23, 1906, 9.30 
Our Aim-To have every Member present 
■ Special Music • Special Program . Best Everl 

Really You car^r^ot affordjo^mis^^^ 



Sac«r)c! ^«fll^ ©ur)«I«y 



ISOR THII 



C 



/e*%e/o.e/ /o. YOU« . ^^^»^* i^* ••»V «»^««»«a^ 






YOU -«v^^ «.^ «^/»^., —^ «- *Z^ 



;^t^You« 



»*#f«y 



/^aZ/y Day. October S. J90S, 

Btllows Fans. Vt 



1905. 






JWthe 
«nore 



iiMc«;s; 



'^'^'^.^ 



"♦i^i' 



the 



8fs 



*e^Jonfflvei 



tE 



Cl 



ASs 



opecial Jk 






96 



JAM 5 190/ 



